“She didn’t learn a damn thing” : Netizens react as Erica Mena counters her "blue monkey" remark about Spice with the latter’s bleaching stunt

Erica Mena is opening up about the aftermath of her Spice 'monkey' comment.

The former Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta star spoke with Nene Leakes on her show recently, where she addressed her previous controversial comments. For those unaware, back in 2023, Mena referred to a Jamaican dancehall artist named Spice, legally known as Grace Hamilton, as a "blue monkey."

She said that she was shown "selective outrage" following her comments, though she did end up getting sacked from her show. However, she defended herself, claiming that she wasn't being racist when she used the word. Instead, "it was more of an appearance thing, it wasn’t skin-related."

However, fans remain unconvinced as scores are now flocking to social media to criticize the television personality.

Here's how one user commented, for instance:

"Just tell me she didn’t learn a damn thing."

See how the rest of Instagram is reacting:

"So no accountability because ppl keep giving her chances. And Spice never championed skin bleaching. She did a drastic/shock value photoshoot to bring attention to the harms of skin bleaching," one user pointed out.

"When Erica talks, I instantly cringe. Like she lacks accountability and it reeeeeks when she speaks. Ew, turn the TV off. Next case! 🙈🤭😂," another chimed in.

"Aah boi, we thought this was over, but here comes #ericamena dragging her misunderstanding for attention again 😮‍💨.. Let me GATHER HER REAL QUICK, CHILE 🙄 Let’s be real clear: Spice never said a WORD about your son, she called out your parenting. Big difference‼️ But of course, you missed the point… comprehension isn't everyone’s strong suit 😌💅🏽 And while we’re at it. don’t EVER try to throw shade because Spice didn’t bleach her skin. She used her platform to highlight colorism, spark conversations, and celebrate her melanin. She's ALWAYS been proud of the colour of her skin‼️ So before you come for the Queen, make sure your facts and your edges are secured 🙄," someone else pointed out.

The comments section was visibly heated:

"And that’s why she’ll ever enjoy the success Spice has had. No accountability," one user chimed in.

"Erica will never learn because our own ppl continue to give opportunities and still hang around her. Why would she learn her lesson. Our own elites don’t respect themselves. 🙄," another noted.

"Girl had a moment of saying a bunch of nothing, just say she went low and I went to hell! Goodness," someone else opined.

"Erica been around for years she got to be in her early 50’s by now😩 lady grow up," yet another noted.

Erica Mena doubles down on claims that her comments weren't race-driven: Read more

For context, in her recent interview, here's what Erica Mena had to say about the debacle:

“You’ve got another woman that’s obviously a lot darker than me, she came at me in regards to my son, and [I used] a word that, yes, has been used to belittle a race at one point in time. It wasn’t said because I was racist, I said it because it was more of an appearance thing, it wasn’t skin-related."

She continued,

“People have selective outrage because this is the woman you guys are going so hard for but she literally went viral or should I say had a whole media campaign about becoming a white woman, and how proud she was to bleach her skin, or I don’t even know what her MO (modus operandi) was at that time.”

Mena was referring to a string of photos Spice had shared of herself, where her skin was seemingly bleached and she had on a blonde wig. However, Jamaica Observer has since reported that the photoshoot was a 2018 stunt done ahead of the debut of her mixtape, Black Hypocrisy, which outlined the issues of colorism and its impact on her.

“On October 22nd I posted a picture of myself where I looked like I altered my appearance and metamorphosis to match the ‘Eurocentric beauty standards’,” Spice wrote in a post on Instagram.

“While it appeared as if I had ‘bleached’ my skin, causing a worldwide debate, and even though the picture was obviously birthed around my single titled ‘Black hypocrisy’ and my mixtape Captured, I want to openly say it was not a “publicity stunt”. I wanted to create awareness to ‘Colorism’ (sic) and it was more so done intentionally to create shock value so that I could have the worlds undivided attention to deliver the message in my music.”

As for Erica Mena, shortly after her comments went viral and she got axed from Love & Hip Hop, she issued an apology, Page Six reported at the time.

“I deeply regret my insensitive comment and want to humbly apologize to anybody I hurt or offended by my thoughtlessness,” she told the outlet in her statement, accepting that her “choice of words was wrong,” and that she takes “full responsibility” for what she said. “I am committed to listening to the voices of those affected and will work toward making amends,” she continued.

“As a woman of color and the mother of two black children, I want to make it clear that my use of that word was not in any way racially driven.” That said, I do understand the gravity of what I said and want to use my platform to promote inclusivity and equality,” she concluded her statement.

Erica Mena shares two children with her former husband, Safaree Samuels, as well as a son from a past relationship.

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