Kat Von D Responds to Lipstick Controversy

Reality TV star and creator of Kat Von D makeup releases a statement about her controversial lipstick color. (Photo: Instagram)

In case you missed it, earlier this week a photo of reality TV star Kat Von D’s lipstick picked up some serious buzz on social media. Why? The color was named Underage Red.

After Parker Marie Molloy posted the photo, it was retweeted by writer Ana Marie Cox, another writer with over a million followers on Twitter, sparking the great debate.

Von D took to her Facebook page on Thursday night to respond to the allegations that her lipstick was promoting or glorifying statutory rape, saying “I have never expected everyone to understand or see things the way that I do.”

The star goes on to say that there shouldn’t be backlash against Sephora, the retailer that carries the brand, since Von D acts as the “sole creative force” behind her cosmetics brand (the shade has since sold out at Sephora). As far as the naming process goes for her products, she says in the Facebook post:

Now, when naming a lipstick, my process may be different than other brand founders. For me, I can look at a shade and it usually evokes a feeling. Some names, of course, aren’t as sentimental and are more literal, but i remember clearly the day i named “Underage Red.”

"Underage Red" was one out of four lipstick shades that I released at the very start of the makeup line, seven years ago. It launched, alongside 3 other variation of red shades: "Hellbent," "Misfit," and "Lolita."

Out of those 4 shades, “Underage Red” was the matte, borderline-neon, fire-engine red.

I clearly remember wearing a variation of this shade when I was 16 years old. I also remember the feeling of wanting so badly to go see a specific concert at this age, and not being able to get in to the venue because I was underage. Back then, I was already deeply in love with punk rock music, and although in the eyes of many (including my parents), it may have been inappropriate for me to be wearing lipstick. But i did.

"Underage Red" is not a girly, pink shade. It is not a sophisticated, deep red either. It is an unapologetic, bold red. To me, "Underage Red" is feminine rebellion.

Kat Von D’s Underage Red lipstick shade. (Photo: Sephora)

Von D says that she will not be pulling the color from her collection and doesn’t believe she needs to apologize for how the color name was interpreted:

These wild, and horrific accusations proclaiming that any aspect of my makeup line would ever promote the degradation of women, statutory rape, sexual behavior, human trafficking, underage drinking, or even idealization of fleeting youth, goes against everything I stand for. So, please excuse me if I find those articles and comments appalling and inaccurate.

If you read the word “underage” and you automatically jump to a disgusting conclusion, I ask you to perhaps question your own mind and thoughts.

At press time, the statement on Facebook has received over 136,000 likes and over 7,000 comments.

What do you think of Von D’s statement? Should the lipstick be removed from store shelves or is her creative freedom more important?