Beauty's Most Controversial Company Is Back In the News

[View on the web]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( Entertainment [Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s “Apeshit” Video Shows Black Bodies in Art — and in Control]( [Beyonce and Jay Z]( In an 1800 painting titled [“Portrait d’une femme noir,”]( an unknown black woman sits for artist Marie-Guillemine Benoist. (The painting’s name means “Portrait of a Black Woman,” or “Portrait of a Negress.”) She is adorned in what appears to be a white sheath; one of her breasts is bare. She has a white scarf wrapped around her head and a small hoop earring hangs from her ear. One hand is gently placed in her lap while the other lays across her torso. She is aware that she is being looked at, and perhaps less aware of what the final image might look like. Nevertheless, she stares right back at the viewer, as if she is just as much aware of your presence as you are hers. The portrait is the only selected work that solely features a black subject in Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter’s [“Apeshit,”]( the couple’s latest collaborative visual by director Ricky Saiz, which accompanied the surprise release of their duet album Everything Is Love. The Musée du Louvre, where the video was shot and where “Portrait d’une femme noir” was acquired in 1818, [describes Benoist’s depiction of the black woman in the painting as an allegory](, perhaps representing the abolishment of slavery in France just six years prior. (Though its subsequent reinstatement should also be noted, [as slavery was not fully abolished until 1894 in France](.) Perhaps the Carters have also presented an allegory, in which a hip-hop music video by the industry’s most-coveted couple becomes much more than a pop culture moment, and rather a piece of art on its own terms: one that makes room for critiques of systemic power structures, like entertainment and art itself, which are often muddled with instances of misrepresentation of black people or the lack of representation completely. The Carters are memorable for a lot of things, including the undeniable control of their narrative. Rarely are their family secrets, or upcoming albums or projects unveiled, and it is often noted that they are keen on having people [sign nondisclosure agreements](. In the Louvre, they also appear to be in control — if only for the time that they have rented the space. They perform in front of some of [the museum’s most-famed works](, such as the “Mona Lisa,” Venus de Milo, and Louvre Pyramid. [Read the rest of the story here>>]( Ad from our sponsor News [Lime Crime, Beauty’s Most Controversial Brand, Was Just Sold]( At one point, [Lime Crime]( was the most hated beauty company on the internet. Its founder, Doe Deere (real name Xenia Vorotova), has courted controversy almost since the brand’s founding 10 years ago. There’s been a Hitler costume; a security breach and subsequent multiple credit card hackings that resulted in the company settling a class-action lawsuit; accusations of cultural appropriation; and a brush with the Food and Drug Administration over misleading packaging, among other things. (Read summaries [here]( and [here](.) These dark undertones have always provided a jarring contrast to the image the brand is trying to project: Unicorns! Rainbows! Sparkles! Recently, however, Lime Crime has been burnishing its reputation and [keeping its nose clean](. Deere had notably stepped back publicly and tapped beauty industry veteran Kim Walls to function as a CEO in everything but her title, which was general manager. Walls had been responsible for providing more structure within the company and growing new retailer partnerships, including with Ulta and Riley Rose. Walls told Racked that Deere herself was on the board and still consulting on collections but was not involved in day-to-day management. But now the company that Deere founded is about to enter a new era. After months of rumors, the private equity firm [Tengram]( just bought a majority stake in Lime Crime, according to [WWD](. A new CEO starts Monday; Stacy Panagakis was previously at Fresh as a general manager. A representative for Lime Crime has confirmed that Walls is no longer with the company. The goal is to triple the size of the brand, estimated to have done $30 million in net sales in 2017, in five years. Sasha Valentine, a longtime employee, will stay on as chief creative officer. Most notable, though, is that Deere is stepping away from day-to-day management completely. This truly is the end of the era and probably a good thing, given her history of flubs and controversies. Bloggers who have doggedly documented Deere’s company for many years in order to keep her accountable have recently noted the lack of drama and correctly predicted that Lime Crime’s rehabilitation was nigh. [Oh Dear Doe Deere](, a Tumblr dedicated to exposing Lime Crime, recently wrote in part: “I have a genuine belief that we are close to the day I never thought I’d see — the end of the need of this blog. ... Now, I have faith that Lime Crime have finally became the brand I always hoped they could be, decent to their customers and wiser to the mistakes they have made along the way.” [Read the rest of the story here >>]( Did a friend forward you this email? [Sign up for the Racked email newsletter](. [MORE GOOD STUFF TO READ TODAY](#) - [The Motivational Wine-Throwing Realtor Also Has a Lingerie Line]( - [IRL Stores Are Doing It For the ’Gram]( - [Unilever Banned Influencers With Fake Followers. Is a Reckoning Next?]( - [Will the MAC x Aaliyah Collection Truly Represent the Late Singer?]( - [What Will We Wear on Mars?]( Ad from our sponsor From the Archives A selection from the editors at Racked [a woman in a pink ski mask]( [Why Lime Crime Is the Most Hated Beauty Company on the Internet]( Fraud, racism, legal threats, a Hitler costume, and the FDA [Read More]( [a woman holding a cell phone]( [The Dirty Business of Buying Instagram Followers]( Every blogger wants to be the next Man Repeller or Susie Bubble— but would you buy your way to get there? [Read More]( Ad from our sponsor [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe]( to stop receiving emails from Racked. 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