The Colombian economy has been devastated as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. An economic downturn over the course of a year has led to a rise in poverty and an unemployment rate of over 14%. Now, the Colombian government — which has long been accused of rampant corruption — has introduced a new tax reform bill that will impose new income taxes on the country’s working and middle classes.

As a result, thousands of Colombians responded by taking to the streets in a united, nationwide protest. Then, when absolutely no one asked, Justin Bieber entered the chat. And rather than take some time to, you know, read up on what’s going on in the South American nation and use his platform to share information, resources, or perhaps make a donation, he decided to offer prayers in an extremely vague and empty Instagram post.

“Not exactly sure of the ins and outs of what is going on but can clearly see that there is chaos in Colombia right now! Keep the people of Colombia in your prayers,” he captioned an Instagram post yesterday which, against a dark-gray background, simply asked people to pray for the people of Colombia.

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Bieber’s post immediately drew the ire of the internet, with many fans implying that it was performative at best and deeply misguided at worst. Rather than use his audience of millions to educate, or link to a fundraiser, or literally anything other than the words “please pray,” the 27-year-old pop singer simply shared an emoji of the Colombian flag along with seven words.

Since it seems Bieber could not be moved to educate himself before making an empty gesture on social media, here’s a refresher of what is happening in Colombia: The tax reform bill, at least prior to the protests forcing President Iván Duque to announce that he would withdraw the legislation, would have imposed a 19% tax on essential services like water, gas, electricity, and internet as well as products like staple food items, gasoline, and medication for anyone earning more than $656 a month. Several unions that played a large role in organizing the protests said the tax would disproportionately impact the poorest people, who are already struggling with the economic impact of the pandemic. Clashes with law enforcement during the protests, which lasted five days in total, resulted in the deaths of at least 17 people, with 800 others reportedly injured.

Even though the current draft of the bill has been pulled, the government is still insisting that this type of reform is necessary in order to stabilize Colombia’s finances, reports Reuters. “It is the youth, social organizations, and mobilized citizens who have seen deaths and defeated the government,” human rights activist and progressive Colombian Senator Iván Cepeda tweeted. “May the government not present the same reform with makeup. The citizens won’t accept tricks.” 

Bieber’s post is a symptom of a much larger disease: Many celebrities now feel moved to speak out in the face of tragedy or injustice, often just to avoid backlash for staying silent. But this doesn’t actually benefit anyone — it doesn’t educate people, it doesn’t bring awareness, and the only beneficiary of those empty posts is the celebrity who posted them. If Bieber were to have, for lack of a better phrase, done the work, really educated himself, and created a plan to help the affected communities in Colombia, that would be one thing. But to post thoughts and prayers after a year of ongoing tragedy and strife around the world? That ain’t it.

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Melissa Carter, an elementary school principal, is currently under investigation for “paddling” — or spanking — a six-year-old student in Clewiston, FL. According to cell phone footage of the incident shared by WINK-TV, the child cried and tried to move while Carter and a school clerk held her in place. She was being punished for reportedly damaging a computer. And even though Carter asked her mother to bring a $50 payment to school (which she did), the teacher still paddled her daughter in front of her upon arrival.

The girl was in “severe pain” afterward, reported the sheriff’s office. Robert J. Egley, the Hendry County District Schools’ deputy superintendent, told The New York Times that “the situation is still under investigation.” But the case has sparked a larger concern over using physical punishment on young kids in schools. Although Hendry County District Schools policy does not allow corporal punishment, spanking students is considered legal in Florida — and 18 other states.

In 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that corporal punishment in schools is not considered “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment — which is why, today, corporal punishment laws vary state by state and sometimes county by county. In Texas, for instance, guardians can choose to sign a statement requesting that their child isn’t subjected to physical punishment. Oklahoma has specific guidelines in place meant to exempt students with “significant cognitive disabilities” from spanking. Some counties even specify the exact dimensions of the paddles that can be used.

Hendry County’s policy specifically states that punishments should not “demean students,” but Florida law says that corporal punishment is allowed if approved by a school’s principal. In the 2011-2012 school year, 4% of Florida schools reported the use of physical punishment. Other states, however, have much more staggering numbers: The same year, 53% and 51% of Arkansas and Alabama schools, respectively, reported the use of physical punishment. 

And according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Black boys are twice as likely to be physically punished compared to white boys, and Black girls are three times as likely to be physically punished compared to their white counterparts. NAACP President Derrick Johnson wrote that these statistics, and the practice overall, should disturb everyone — “not only because studies show that students of color do not misbehave any more than their white peers,” he wrote in the SPLC report, “but because the impact of corporal punishment can be devastating on a student’s ability to learn and succeed.”

As Elizabeth T. Gershoff and Sarah A. Font noted in a 2012 study, this practice would be considered assault with a weapon or child in abuse in almost any other situation. Military training centers and many juvenile detention facilities have banned it. It’s also proven to impede students’ ability to learn. So why is physical punishment still allowed in schools?

Marion County, FL, which is about 200 miles north of Clewiston, outlawed physical punishment in 2010. But the board voted to reinstate it in 2013. According to the county’s school board, corporal punishment is preferable to alternatives like expulsion or suspension, which members likened to “a vacation.” Advocates also believe it instills fear in children, which trains them not to misbehave.

But this belief goes against everything we know from psychologists, social workers, and medical professionals. “By definition, spanking is intended to cause bodily pain as a way of correcting or punishing a child’s conduct,” wrote Susan H. Bitensky in Corporal Punishment of Children: A Human Rights Violation. “Most child care experts agree that spanking does absolutely nothing to further the main disciplinary goals of developing the child’s conscience and inclination toward peaceful conflict resolution. It appears that the only conceivable good that can come out of smacking a child is the ephemeral one of stunning the child into a provisional halt of his or her transgression.”

According to Bitensky, corporal violence benefits the punisher more than the child. She described it as “a device that serves the short-term needs of care givers,” and simply makes educators feel in control and “let off steam.”

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry agreed. In a statement last updated in 2014, the Academy wrote that it “takes issue with laws in some states legalizing such corporal punishment and protecting adults who use it from prosecution for child abuse.” The collective also warned that this practice teaches kids to perceive violence and pain as a natural punishment, which could lead to them resorting to similar behavior. 

The Clewiston mother’s lawyer, Brent Probinsky, said that he and the girl’s family both hope Carter faces criminal and administrative action. “The hatred with which she hit my daughter,” her mother told WINK-TV in Spanish. “I mean, it was a hatred that, really, I’ve never hit my daughter like she hit her.”

Refinery29 reached out to the Clewiston Police Department and Hendry County School District for comment.

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On Tuesday, Tallulah Willis and Dillon Buss announced that they are getting hitched. Willis, the youngest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore and the founder of fashion brand Wyllis, made the announcement via Instagram, captioning candid photos of the backyard engagement: “With absolute most certainty.”

“I can finally call you my fiancée,” Buss wrote on a post of his own. “Love you forever Buuski Lu, you are my best friend.” (Buuski is Willis’ childhood nickname.)

Then came a close-up photo of the stunning ring. For the occasion, Buss, a film director, sought out Brooklyn-based jeweler Karina Noel who custom made the design — an emerald-cut, solitaire diamond on a yellow gold band. “Making this work of art was a true honor,” Noel said on Instagram stories.

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According to Kimberly Abruzzo, a gemologist at Rare Carat, the diamond appears to be approximately five to six carats. “Emerald cuts require high clarity, so you can be assured this is a very clean stone,” Abruzzo says. As for whether Willis approved of his pick, her caption on the video of the ring says it all: “HANDS STILL SHAKIN’ — MOMS SPAGHETTI — I’m FIANCÉNCHED.” 

Willis joins a long list of celebrities with classic solitaire stones on their ring fingers, including Emily In Paris actress Lily Collins and model Jasmine Tookes. In fact, according to Shelley Brown, The Knot’s senior fashion and beauty editor, “solitaire settings with one — usually very large — diamond” are a big 2021 engagement ring trend. “The diamond shape may vary, but the settings tend to be very clean, without a lot of intricate detail,” she told Refinery29 in December. 

Willis’ engagement ring is indeed minimal and understated. Or, at least, the band and timeless setting are. The massive diamond at the center, however, has maximum effect.

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I am all about breaking that “no white” before Memorial Day rule.

How about you all?

Love me some linen.

And obviously love me some neutrals too.

In 2019, California became the first state to pass The CROWN Act to make natural hair discrimination illegal. Since then, the bill has gained much-needed momentum, and numerous state legislations are following suit. Now, Tennessee is the latest state to put The CROWN Act in motion. 

State senators unanimously passed the bill, which stands for Creating an Open and Respectful World with No Racism, with a vote of 28-0. The bill will now go to the Tennessee House of Representatives for a vote. Under the proposed law, employers and schools will be prohibited from discriminating against Black people who choose to wear their hair naturally or in protective styles.

Senator Raumesh Akbari led the charge and celebrated the vote on Instagram. “My mom is known as ‘The Hair Doctor,’ and growing up, I saw so many people find dignity & self-respect in being able to wear their hair naturally,” Senator Akbari shared. “No one should be shamed or denied opportunities because of their natural hair, and that’s what the #CROWNAct is all about.”

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Tennessee isn’t the only Southern state making strides to end hair-based discrimination. In July 2020, Virginia became the first Southern state to make The CROWN Act law. Louisiana State Senate also passed The CROWN Act on May 3, moving the bill to the House for deliberation. Louisiana Senator Troy Carter, who championed the bill, shared that he hopes the House passes it “quickly.” According to local news, the bill will go into effect if passed by the House on August 1.

The CROWN Act should be up for very little debate: Black people have been subject to discrimination, bias, harassment, and even death — far too many times — on the basis of physical appearance. Implementing The CROWN Act across the United States is a step in the right direction to creating a safer, more equitable world for Black people, and we’re looking forward to seeing more states get on board.

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