Lili Reinhart Apologized for Using a "Sideboob" Photo to Demand Justice for Breonna Taylor
Lili Reinhart took heat for her most recent Instagram post on Tuesday, apologizing for her “tone deaf” topless photo that demanded justice for Breonna Taylor in the caption. The photo, which has since been removed from the Riverdale actress's Instagram page, showed Reinhart nearly nude on a beach and included a caption that read: "Now that my sideboob has gotten your attention, Breonna Taylor’s murderers have not been arrested. Demand Justice."
Though it has been more than 100 days since Taylor was senselessly murdered, none of the four officers involved have been charged, despite widespread protests and calls for arrests. However, people online were quick to call out Reinhart’s post for appearing to be more self-serving than helpful to the cause.
Some called her out for using Taylor's name in vain, emphasizing that the post was doing little to raise awareness.
i think captioning your selfies with call to arrest the cops who killed breonna taylor and thinking ur doing something to raise awareness is very self absorbed but that’s just me
— ʙʀɪᴀ ᴅᴀʏ 🎂ᴋᴀʏʟɪɴ ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ (@kanekislut) June 30, 2020
lili reinhart really thought she was doing something. this is DISGUSTING. stop using breonna taylors name as a caption for your sexy photos. she's not a meme or a marketing tactic. pic.twitter.com/Orjv4nkSFG
— Ashley | ʙʟᴍ (@REIGNONROLLINS) June 29, 2020
breonna taylor's death is NOT a joke or meme and people need to know that and lili's post was literally NOT it
— prit (@vmsuperiority) June 29, 2020
After taking down the post, Reinhart issued an apology via Twitter, admitting that she made a mistake and that she is “still learning and trying to be better.”
I’ve tried very hard to be honest on my IGTV lives that I’m still learning and trying to be better.
But I understand that my caption came off as tone deaf. I truly had good intentions and did not think it through that it could come off as insensitive.— Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart) June 29, 2020
Recently, the 23-year-old has used her Instagram Live to have conversations with Black celebrities and creators—including former Riverdale cast member Asha Bromfield—to talk about Black Lives Matter and their experiences with racism and racial injustice.
“I’ve tried very hard to be honest on the IGTV lives that I’m still learning and trying to be better. But I understand my caption came off as tone-deaf,” she said.
If you want to take action to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, here are some ways to help:
Donate to the GoFundMe for Taylor's family.
Sign this petition, which asks for the officers involved to be arrested and charged and for Congress to pass legislation that federally bans “no-knock” warrants.
Send an email to the Kentucky Attorney General and Governor using the link provided here.
Reinhart's Instagram gaffe doesn't take away from legitimate ways to demand justice. Do what you can.
