The change comes as a stand against cultural appropriation.
Monty Luke started a petition on Change.org a couple of days ago, asking that The Black Madonna change her alias for ‘cultural appropriation’. Since then, over 1000 people have signed it, and the North American DJ Marea Stamper took into consideration the complaints, ensuring that she will now go by the alias The Blessed Madonna.
Read her press statement below.
Friends,
I have changed my name to The Blessed Madonna.
I have always been transparent about my faith because I felt the responsibility to be clear about who I was and who I was not. The name was a reflection of my family’s long and deep Catholic devotion to the specific type of European icon of the Virgin Mary, which is dark in hue.
People who share this devotion loved the name, but looking back, I should have listened more carefully to other perspectives.
But now I hear loud and clear. My alias has been a point of controversy, confusion, pain, and frustration that distracts from things that are a thousand times more important than any name in the world. We live in extraordinary times and this is a very small part of a much bigger conversation, but we all have a responsibility to try to promote positive change in any way we can. I want you to feel confident about the person I am and what I stand for.
Thanks for listening. May you continue to bless.
With love, Marea.
