A leading Polish TV talent show has been widely criticised for featuring celebrity contestants in blackface, impersonating Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé.
Singer Kuba Szmajkowski, a star in Poland who has 163,000 Instagram followers, won the second episode of the 19th series of Twoja Twarz Brzmi Znajomo – the Polish iteration of long-running franchise Your Face Sounds Familiar – on Saturday after performing Lamar’s track Humble in blackface, fake cornrows and a fake beard. He also used the N-word, which went uncensored on the broadcast.
Actor Pola Gonciarz also darkened her skin to perform as Beyoncé, singing If I Were a Boy. Each contestant posted videos of their respective transformations on social media.
Your Face Sounds Familiar is produced in Poland by Endemol Shine (under French parent company Banijay), whose other hits include regional versions of Big Brother, The Million Pound Drop and Masterchef. The show originated in Spain in 2011.
In a statement to the Guardian, a Banijay spokesperson said: “Banijay condemns Endemol Shine Poland’s local execution of Your Face Sounds Familiar, which contradicts our group’s global values. A subsequent internal investigation is underway and the appropriate measures will be taken.” Hundreds of social media users also expressed outrage.
Twoja Twarz Brzmi Znajomo has previously – and unrepentantly – caused controversy over its use of blackface.
After actor Tomasz Ciachorowski performed Stronger by Kanye West in 2021, the show posted a statement saying it was “very surprised” by the backlash, arguing: “The intention of each star performing on the show, as well as of the whole production team, is to recreate the original performance in the most precise manner, while honouring the original artist.”
They proudly gave other previous examples, of imitations of Tina Turner, Missy Elliott, Stevie Wonder and more, and highlighted the charitable giving on the show. Szmajkowski donated his 10,000zł prize for winning the episode to children’s cancer charity Przystań Nadziei.
In 2021, the Czech iteration of the show banned its contestants from using blackface.
