BBC Removes Article Linking Bare Nails Trend to White Supremacy After Backlash
The British broadcaster took down a piece that suggested unpainted fingernails could perpetuate racist beauty standards, drawing widespread criticism.
The BBC removed an article that explored the trend of wearing unpainted fingernails, after it suggested the practice could perpetuate "White supremacist" beauty standards and be a class issue. The article, titled "How the bare nails trend became a class issue," was published and subsequently faced significant backlash.
Critics argued that the article's premise was nonsensical and offensive. Beauty journalist Kristina Rodulfo was quoted in the original piece as stating that the trend promotes "blankness and this kind of sameness and erasure of culture and identity that is so important to [B]lack and [B]rown communities," and that terms like "elegant" or "tasteful" are often euphemisms for White supremacist beauty standards.
Journalists and commentators quickly reacted to the article on social media. Helen Joyce, director of advocacy for Sex Matters, called the piece "stupid" and "pointless." Radio host Dana Loesch questioned the article's origin, while American Conservation Coalition CEO Danielle Franz made a sarcastic remark about people "dogwhistling" by not painting their nails. The Sun editor-at-large Harry Cole described the article's premise as "mental."
Following the criticism, the BBC initially updated the article with a note stating it had been "removed pending editorial review." The URL for the article later resulted in a 404 error page, indicating its complete removal.
This incident occurred months after former President Donald Trump won permission to file an amended legal complaint against the BBC. Trump alleges the broadcaster "maliciously and deceptively" edited footage of his January 6 speech in a 2024 documentary, an act his legal team described as an attempt to interfere in the presidential election. The controversy surrounding the edited speech led to the resignations of BBC News CEO Deborah Turness and Director-General Tim Davie in November 2025.