She had a simple response to her critics.
Earlier this summer, Alicia Keys wrote an essay on why she was tired of the pressure she felt to always look a certain way, and decided to stop wearing make-up.
“‘I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing,” she said at the time.
Since then she has appeared on television, in interviews, and on stage without make-up, and looked amazing.
Her most recent public make-up free appearance was MTV’s Video Music Awards.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJs54Qijh1s/?tagged=aliciakeys
Of course, a lot of people praised her for her decision.
Alicia keys is so beautiful, what a amazing women 💕 #VMAs
— Sophie Elizabeth ♡ (@SophElizabeth66) August 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/WaqasDirar/status/770550760148983808
https://twitter.com/paoloarago/status/770549822000537600
But a lot of the comments were extremely harsh about the star’s natural beauty.
Alicia Keys looks like Swizz just woke her up and told her they had to go to the VMAs.
— Big K.R.I.S. (@_slackademic) August 29, 2016
Alicia Keys looks like she just rolled out of bed.
Enough is enough, girl. It's okay to wear makeup for special occasions. Lol #VMAs— Inga (@sauvignonelle) August 29, 2016
"Alicia Keys is taking this no makeup thing too far. It's the #VMAs .. put on some mascara."
– @_KeLOLO
— Kelsey (@LxKelseyB) August 29, 2016
Alicia Keys and this no make up thing was okay at first but now she needs to put on some makeup #VMAs
— Zachary Bess (@TheZacharyBess) August 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/itsmedarlando/status/770049608848384004
https://twitter.com/emilywilsn/status/770287417261592576
https://twitter.com/MACnMahalia/status/770291429121794049
With all the negativity, it seems that a lot of people are missing the point, so Alicia took to Twitter with a simple message to clear up any confusion.
Y'all, me choosing to be makeup free doesn't mean I'm anti-makeup. Do you! 😘😘 pic.twitter.com/Mg0Ug9YA9q
— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) August 29, 2016
Her husband Swizz Beatz also posted a video on Instagram to defend his wife.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJt2hJKhdhN/?taken-by=therealswizzz
