Vybz Kartel Discusses Skin-Bleaching Past and Personal Growth in Recent Interview
April 10, 2025
Dancehall icon Vybz Kartel discusses his decision to stop skin-bleaching, citing self-love as a key factor. He also talks about reducing alcohol and smoking habits and future plans with his girlfriend.
Dancehall icon Vybz Kartel says he will never bleach again, attributing his past choices to issues of self-love.
The renowned artist discussed his skin-bleaching history during a recent appearance on the Hot97 radio show with American radio personality and presenter Ebro Darden.
Reflecting on that period of his life, Kartel said “I mean in hindsight it definitely had to do with self-love, but on the other hand while I was doing it, my mind wasn’t telling me that. My mind was telling me ‘I am doing this to show my tattoos’…I got a lot of tattoos. But looking back, it was just as a black man, sometimes we have those issues but I would never bleach again though.”
Kartel also shared during the interview that he has reduced his alcohol and smoking habits and looked forward to marrying his girlfriend Sidem Öztürk and having “Turkish children”. (Jamaica Observer)
