Cardi B, the Grammy-winning rapper known for her unfiltered personality and meteoric rise to fame, has found herself in the middle of a heated online exchange with social media personality Raymonte Cole. The controversy, which unfolded this week on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), revolved around sensitive issues of colorism, class, and the factors that influence marketability in the entertainment and influencer industries.
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This charged debate between Cardi and Cole has sparked widespread conversation about how skin tone, cultural perceptions, and systemic biases shape opportunities in public life.
The Catalyst: A TikTok Video
The drama began when Raymonte Cole posted a TikTok video lamenting his struggles as a Black influencer to secure brand deals and gain marketability. In the video, Cole compared himself to Cardi B, questioning why her perceived “ghetto” behavior was deemed acceptable and profitable while he faced stereotypes and criticism for similar traits.
“What bothers me as a Black person, you guys say that I’m ghetto,” Cole said. “But Cardi B is very, very ghetto. She’s way ghettoer than me.”
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The comment set off a firestorm, with Cole further suggesting that Cardi’s lighter skin gave her a marketability advantage not afforded to darker-skinned individuals. “This is no shade, this is just literally a fact,” he added, framing his argument within the broader context of colorism.
Cardi B Fires Back
Unsurprisingly, Cardi B responded swiftly and sharply. In a series of posts on X, she addressed Cole’s comments and defended her journey to success.
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“It’s crazy because when I became famous, people said I’m ghetto,” she wrote. “To this day, no matter what I’ve accomplished, I still get called a stripper all because I’m from the ghetto. People misinterpret me because apparently I’m LOUD AND GHETTO.”
Cardi emphasized that her rise to stardom was far from easy and required a great deal of personal sacrifice and adaptation. She highlighted the effort she had put into altering her behavior, speech, and presentation to appeal to a wider audience.
“I had to change the way I talk, the way I act, and the way I respond and present myself,” she continued. “You’re ignoring all of that and playing the color card.”
The Debate Intensifies
As the debate unfolded, the exchange became more personal. Cole doubled down on his original statement, tweeting, “Girl, why are you getting so mad at the comparison? I’m saying you are successful and reached heights that visibly Black ghetto people have a harder time reaching.”
While Cole insisted that he meant no offense, he reiterated that his point was rooted in a systemic issue: the perception that lighter-skinned individuals face fewer obstacles than their darker-skinned counterparts, even when coming from similar socioeconomic backgrounds.
Cardi, whose representatives did not respond to requests for comment, maintained that her success had less to do with her skin tone and more to do with her ability to navigate a complex and often discriminatory industry.
The Role of Essence Magazine
The conversation about colorism and brand representation was partly spurred by an article published on Essence magazine’s website. The piece highlighted a recent birthday trip Cole took with other Black influencers, using it as an example to critique how brands overlook Black creators in favor of their white or lighter-skinned peers.
However, Cole called out the magazine for what he perceived as hypocrisy. He claimed that Essence, despite championing Black influencers in the article, had itself overlooked him for invitations to events.
“Omg Essence, thank you for the article but this is kind of hypocritical,” Cole wrote. “You all have invited numerous other influencers to events—never me.”
His frustration underscored a larger issue in the industry: the marginalization of Black creators and the lack of consistent support from brands and platforms that claim to promote diversity.
The Broader Implications of Colorism
Colorism—the preferential treatment of lighter-skinned individuals within the same racial group—remains a pervasive issue across industries, including entertainment and media. It affects how people are perceived, treated, and marketed, often creating unequal opportunities for success.
For Cole, Cardi B’s success exemplifies this disparity. As a lighter-skinned Afro-Latina, she has managed to transcend her “ghetto” roots in ways that darker-skinned individuals often cannot. Cole’s argument is not that Cardi hasn’t worked hard but rather that systemic biases have played a role in shaping perceptions of her marketability.
Cardi’s rebuttal, however, highlighted the challenges she faced in breaking into mainstream success. Her journey has involved navigating stereotypes, classism, and the lingering stigma of her background as a stripper—all while becoming one of the most successful female rappers of all time.
The Response from Fans and Critics
The online exchange has sparked divided reactions among fans and social media users.
Supporters of Cole praised him for raising important questions about representation and the hurdles faced by darker-skinned individuals in media and entertainment.
“I’m glad he brought up this topic. We need to have these conversations,” one user wrote.
Meanwhile, Cardi’s fans rallied to her defense, pointing out her resilience and the barriers she has overcome to achieve success.
“People love to tear Cardi down every chance they get,” a fan commented. “She worked hard to be where she is, and it’s not fair to dismiss that.”
Others argued that the debate highlighted a more significant issue: the tendency to pit Black and Afro-Latina individuals against each other rather than addressing the systemic issues at play.
A Complex Conversation
The exchange between Cardi B and Raymonte Cole shines a spotlight on the complex intersections of colorism, class, and privilege in the entertainment industry. While both parties brought valid perspectives to the table, the debate underscores how nuanced and deeply ingrained these issues are.
For Cardi, the criticism feels like a dismissal of her hard work and sacrifices. For Cole, it’s an opportunity to shed light on systemic inequities that disproportionately affect darker-skinned individuals.
As the conversation continues to unfold online, one thing is clear: the entertainment industry still has a long way to go in addressing the biases that shape who gets to succeed and why.
