Isaiah Mustafa Apologizes For Saying He Wants Kids With ‘Good Hair’

by Justin Fenner | 11:50 am, October 1st, 2011

There was a time when we thought Isaiah Mustafa, famous for being the Old Spice guy, could do absolutely no wrong. Then yesterday, he said in an interview that he wants his future wife and kids to have “good hair,” and that era ended.

Mustafah, the man your man could smell like, made the comment in an E! News interview with Guiliana Rancic on Friday. The two had been talking about Mustafah’s new TV show, Angels, when the conversation turned to his personal life and what he’s looking for in a relationship. Mustafah said whoever he ends up with has to have “good hair.”

It might seem like an innocuous enough comment on its face, but for Black women, good hair is a nebulous ideal of beauty that operates on one central premise: natural hair is not beautiful, and the more you can do to straighten and slicken what for many people is curly, wavy hair, the better. What’s worse is that the women who subscribe to this idea spend billions of dollars a year on products to make their hair comply with this unwritten regulation. Writing off women who wear their natural hair with pride was a touchy thing to do, but it seemed like Mustafah was doing just that:

“Yes, it does have to be real hair. I want my kids to have nice hair so she better have good hair. Cause, I don’t know if you’ve checked my hair out lately. Aside from today it’s normally nice. Today it’s slightly nappy,” Mustafa said.

Maybe he was trying to be funny, but he still struck a nerve. After a small explosion of outraged comments, Mustafa took to Twitter to apologize, saying: “I want 2 apologize wholeheartedly 2 anyone out there who was offended or hurt by the irresponsible comments I made on E! News. #ignorant”

Mustafa explained in an interview with blogger Abiola that he was being self deprecating about his own hair, which he’s trying to grow out after years of being having a crew cut so short he’s almost bald.

“In no way was I trying to state that I think more women should have good hair, in that sense, in they way that most African Americans understand it, he said. It was a poor choice of words, a very irresponsible thing to say on my part. That was not my intention at all.”

It’s a nice sentiment, but we would think that no matter what the condition of his own hair, Mustafah would understand the implications of saying something like this in the national media — even if it was a joke. Over the last year or so, black people have been the targets of messages saying they are not and cannot be as beautiful as people of other races: First there was that horrifying study in Psychology Today that tried to use science to explain why Black women aren’t as beautiful as white women, and then a few months ago Nivea tried to convince men to “re-civilize” themselves by cutting off all their hair. In light of that, are you offended by what Mustafah said? More importantly, do you think his apology flies?

[Abiola, The Huffington Post]

Good Hair Guiliana Rancic Isaiah Mustafa Old Spice

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jasmine-Monique-Warner/1655876215 Jasmine Monique Warner

No, I do not think that ridiculous apology flies. Other than the part that he admits his ignorance he never fully explains himself! What did he mean by “good hair” if not in the “sense that most African-Americans understands it? Obviously if he’s upset with his hair being naturally “nappy” I doubt he appreciates the kinky hair of many black women. He should be ashamed of himself and issue a more honest explanation. Or maybe have someone better interview him who’s not afraid to ask him the tougher and deeper questions in order to get to the bottom of this. Until then I find his apology hard to swallow.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MHDBSD7P2JU3U3CCCXZS4H66BY muziq6

Think before you speak Isaiah. Unfortunately he is now in the same boat with Taye Diggs, some black women will never support his projects now.
PJ

I don’t understand why black women are getting so upset. Black women spends billions of dollars a year on “good” hair, leading one to believe that THEY DON’T BELIEVE their hair is good enough. Their message, although unspoken, is the same as Mr. Mustafa’s. In case you’re wondering, I wear sisterlocks, something many Blacks have to ask “what are they.”
Fioribei

I have curly hair and lighter skin. My parents are black, it’s just a trait that pops out in each generation. I am approached by black men all the time and they compliment me on my hair and only want to date me bc of my hair….ugh, huge red flag. My father is black and would never say something degrading about his own race. The old spice guy is just insecure. Don’t get upset by his ignorant comments bc lots of black men are that way. I don’t want any man, no matter what race, who would only marry me bc of a physical trait. “beauty” fades, but love never fails. When his other-race woman leaves him for someone with more money or more status…he’s going to be stuck with all these kids and no woman to help raise them bc he chose a spouse based on superficial reasons, not true, meaningful reasons.
I’m now married to a wonderful man, he’s white, and he would never think to degrade me in that way. He loves me for me, not my hair. Some black men need to stop bc they talk ab loving their moms so much, but they would never marry a women who looks anything like their beloved mother. My mother said for this old spice guy to shove it. I agree.
http://howtoloveyourreflection.com TheImageCoach

It used to be said when some men are drunk, they “speak their sober thoughts”. Guess that also applies when you stick a microphone in their faces and give them a little fame. I am SO disappointed that this man who so many enjoyed in his advertising has that degree of ignorance in him…granted, he is human, but he has GOT to realize how damaging it is to have a “media icon” such as himself say things like that without thinking first.

Why is it that celebrities of color have not YET accepted that they are representatives of their entire race? NO – it’s not right – but it IS. No matter how high people of color rise, they will always been seen as “THE” representative of the entire race at some particular point in their lives. WATCH WHAT YOU SAY…THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK…because if you don’t, this media crapstorm is what will follow…just as surely as night follows day.
https://www.umsonline.org/universityofmetaphysicalsciencesstaff.htm Christine Breese

You get the hair you’re given, it’s up to you to style it.
https://www.umsonline.org/universityofmetaphysicalsciencesstaff.htm Christine Breese

You get the hair you’re given, it’s up to you to style it.
Sredd72

I guess he hates the way his mother looks!
http://twitter.com/Hairplayer Fritz Clay

What is Good hair? I mean really though, It’s truly an opinion. what a topic:) luv luv luv.talkin’ about sticking a comb in your mouth!
Drwpsych

Who cares what he thinks or what he wants? I love my locs!
Toni Bella

well said.
Weddingday60

(Scratching my head and wondering) Why are black men thinking that their hair is different from black women? Lately, some black men have been insinuating or implying that their hair is of a totally different texture, or grain of black women; as if the brothersare of another race altogether. I don’t get it. Can somebody clue me in.
Dzee

amen.
Michellejeannyc

He has contributed to the ignorance of what already exists in the world and the poor self image which exists in the black community due to media and pathetic comment like Mustafa, i’m no longer a fan of his.
Cassiemd

people are so oversensitive… he didn’t say “i want a woman with white-woman hair,” he just said that he wants a woman’s hair to look nice.
Even if he DOES prefer women who have smooth, straight hair, so what?? He is allowed to have personal preferences. Just because he’s black doesn’t mean he has to love black women’s hair.
MguyX

You people have read so much into the comment that you are now up in arms about what somebody else had to say about the fairly innocuous and quite obviously glib attempt at humor. IT WAS A JOKE! He didn’t say “Black people are bad” — YOU brought your OWN preconceptions to the phrase “good hair” and ran with it. And yes, I said “you people”: do you want to read into that too??? Stop being haters and hypocrites and trying to tear down sucessful black men. Grow up: this is the 21st century; stop pretending to have thin skin.
Knowsbetter

His mother has good hair, so you’re wrong there buddy.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TV3PMVLHCBGSYE24RYNPYJHYOQ Laura

he wants his kids to have good hair. i want my kids to have my husbands eyes. what’s wrong with that? give it a rest people… why should he have to apologize for others insecurities. why must people constantly throw eggshells under everyone’s feet? i hope your kids have good hair mustafa… and hopefully if they don’t, they won’t throw a hissy fit. :)
Anonymous

Black women, just don’t support what he does – he dates white women and does so unapologetically, let them support him.
I’m Natural and I’m Proud

Good Hair is healthy hair, nothing more, nothing less…if he had any sense he would have said that he is looking for a good woman who will be a good partner in life and a good mother to his children…but he came off more than a bit shallow…personally he means nothing to me but as a Black woman with natural hair (that is “good” hair in the sense that is healthy hair) I can feel where others are coming from. If you are not black you may not understand the stigma associated with his careless statement. If you are black then please understand that it is a daily battle for each of us to have to deal with the negative stereotyping that is rampant in the media and we need positive images and people who actually care about what is put out there for our younger generations to absorb. **Peace**
Mscurvy

Yes it means exactly that.
Steve C

Has Isaiah actually stated what his definition of “good hair” is? Or is everyone just assuming he means non-African-American hair because that’s what they consider to be “good hair”?

Wow, it’s a good job we live in a world where we all have exactly the same opinion about what is good or not, otherwise we’d all be throwing about wild speculation about what people meant when they said something had to be good.
James84

This is one of the most racist things I’ve read in some time. Why should anyone feel the need to apologize for who they date because of their skin color? The fact you classify white women as “them” also speaks volumes about your views on racial equality.
Loveinhair123

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Joyoohair

However, you do not need to spend a fortune to get a very good and effective
laser light as laser light they live I is have become increasinglystage light ss expensive and arelaser stage light you stand above most other average
mobile discos if you include lasers in your equipment line-up.

full colors laser light l in the range of most people on small
budgets

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云赵

What is hair straightener? I mean really though, It’s truly an opinion. what a
topic:) luv luv luv.talkin’ about sticking a comb in your mouth!
http://www.opticalwarehouseny.com/ Pearlerg

Then yesterday, he said in an interview that he wants his future wife and kids to have “good hair,” and that era ended.
Phonics808

Either way if that is his preference it is his and no one can get mad. If you don’t have “good hair” then so what. Be proud in who you are and there are other fish in the sea who would appreciate all you have to offer. That is the same as getting mad because someone wants someone who is blonde or tall. You cannot change those aspects of who you are. Who are we to get mad and to limit the honesty people can show when they have to answer a question in such a way not to offend anyone. Get over yourselves. If you are mad then there is a deeper reason and not because he disqualified you from the running of Mrs. Mustafa.
tiredofpcwhiners

boo hoo. stfu whiners. get over yourselves and stop bullying people for everything they say. if you are offended you need to be offended.

Isaiah Mustafa Apologizes For Saying He Wants Kids With ‘Good Hair’

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