Blaine and Laila Discuss Hair Weave: A Rebuttal

[hyacinthdibley]

awww. they're too adorable. especially Blaine. I hope he feels better about those comments.

[crimzon5]

@NinjaBooKitty your the dumbass-and a simple one at that-because that's not true for all tv anchors.stupid

[KamKomissioner]

xD haha he said trifling, with the full /ing/ sound!! btw i agree with embracingnatural, he didn't strike me as racist or ignorant. naive maybe? either way it was pretty funny.

[akaziaj]

People in the work place get way to comfortable with each other. What happened to boundaries????

[1hotshon]

This is absolutely the best dialogue on the topic...Luv it!!!

[Creativeich]

You guys are awesome! Great on TV chemistry!

[oldschoolruler]

OK...this was cool. I still think weaves are wack. I'd like to see the issue, of why the station feels she has to put forth a certain 'image', discussed more. I doubt they would tell Blaine he needs to wear an Afro Wig...jus' sayin'...

[Kwintessence]

@oldschoolruler the station is her employer and can, within reason, require her to dress a certain way. kind of like how bank employees don't have tattoos and nose-to-ear chains.

[vealstar]

I wish these two were on the air in my city! Adorable! Love them!

[brownsuga395]

Girl has a very beautiful afro. She shouldn't be surprised that sum1 talked about her "hair" being a weave though. Ppl who have no been living under rocks their whole lives should know that black women don't have straight hair. And if u don't know that by now then you're a complete idiot, or a white person who has never seen a black woman b4...which is very very rare. If we have straight hair on our heads then its either a relaxer, or a weave or heat styling to change the texture of it...duh!

[yamamefish]

People should be able to wear their hair anyway they want to. Being in an Asian family, I gotta tell ya all those Asian girls out there with blonde or red hair weren't born that way :-) It's not about conforming, though, it's about wearing what they like. My wife is a hairdresser, and she wears it long, black, and straight - totally natural - because it looks good on her.

People who think the hair you wear has anything to do with racism need to get over themselves, and their own racism.

[sometimesdee]

Thanks for opening up this can of worms, Blaine. As Laila said, the issue was that you put her business out there for all of Hampton Roads, lol! When I wore weaves and wigs, I never denied them. Now that I wear dreadlocks, I don't begrudge my sisters who make other choices; they have their reasons. I'm waiting for the day that natural styles will be more accepted in society. Even my own mother insisted I get a weave for my wedding, so I wasn't able to start my 'locs until afterward.

[phoenics1908]

Let's be real. It isn't just black women wearing weaves - but somehow I think Blaine would never have thought to call out a white woman's weave live on the air. I think that's where a lot of the anger and vitriol is coming from. Perhaps Blaine and Laila are comfortable that way, but sometimes that "comfort" starts to look just a little too much like "disrespect". But overall this is good. Black women's hair has been a political topic for decades. Good that people are discussing it now.

[kimkim72]

I love the natural girl! The afro is beautiful!

[risingsun11]

Very classy --- you guys took an awkward moment and showed us how you got passed it with humor and understanding. You have wonderful TV chemistry. Both of you are class acts.

[kpeppers1]

I love your hair!

[threeblue]

They're kinda awesome. I wish they were my local news anchors.

[Kwintessence]

LOL Nice save. Weaves are like hats for some people. They just happen to look like hair. My question is, how can she store all that natural hair under such a small weave? It is mind boggling.

[nwaltengus]

@Kwintessence

they braid the natural hair close to the scalp-like cornrows, and then they sew/thread the weave/fake hair into/on top of the braids.

[cumensu]

@Kwintessence, she braids or twists her hair before putting on the weave. Natural African American hair, which is hair that hasn't been chemically relaxed, shrinks especially when exposed to water. A lot of women have a shrinkage factor of between 75-80% and that makes the hair look shorter than it really is. Even her afro is not the real length of her hair.

[vabeatsonthenet]

huh...no ring?..damn I gotta remember to check for that

[grumman581]

So, what is the difference between a "weave" and a "wig"? Considering the fact that she says that her "weave" protects her hair from the studio lights, I would think that it would be more of a "wig"...

[Growlithe420]

@grumman581 You're seriously going to ask anonymous youtube commenters instead of just googling it?

[grumman581]

@Growlithe420 Obviously, I have so little hair and care so little about it that I don't deem it worth the effort to move my cursor to the search bar and do the search... :) I'm at the point in life where the only questions is "should I polish it or not"...

[MadlockNJ]

God bless you both for being as reasonable as possible rather than people seeking to create controversy - even when they have no standing in the situation.

[MyTeamsBettah]

I like it natural much much more. Your boss is wrong.

[grumman581]

@MyTeamsBettah Perhaps the boss things that with her natural "Big Hair", it will force the camera to move too far back and the face will look too small?

[Nichchic228]

You two are so cute! ...together lol. I didn't see a ring on either of you. ;)

[quettajarob]

Stay away from that Outre Remi Velvet girl. Get you some Bobbi Boss IndiRemi. You'll love it. Lol.

[baglady4112000]

@AngeliCakes3 Oh yes I saw that, that's what made me wonder.

[littleeva]

Girlfriend needs to wear her hair NATURAL. Weaves can smell bad when they're cheap. I've smelled them on the subway, ewwwww.

[NaturalMe72]

Luv that you guys did a rebuttal! FUNNY!!! Laila your naturalhair is GORGEOUS!!! I host a natural hair meetup group in Virginia Beach; Hampton Roads Nappturals (we're on FB) & would luv for you to join us anytime!!!

[TheHanyouKitten]

I'm pretty sure he said "My anchor wife"...

[DerbyCityNaturals]

I absolutely loved that you chose to do the rebuttal vid. Most Black women can look and tell it was a weave and knew the whimpered reply was more out of shock, lol. I am so glad you chose to show off a pic of your GORGEOUS natural hair. its obvious you two have a chemistry and friendship and it was all done in fun. Thanks for clearing the air :) BTW Laila if you are interested I would love to feature you on my natural hair blog.

[johnstonjessie]

Lmfao! He got one too many lace-frounts!

[thephotographer4you]

KUDOS! To both of you...I love your realness. Love it!

[BlaineStewartWTKR]

Thanks for all of the feedback. Love ya! -Blaine

[isouro]

Dude knows his weaves! Lol it's ok Blaine we can see that u meant well!

[cocoabakerchica]

Look, it's often best(and normal) in the media/entertainment industry for women of ANY race/ethnicity to wear weave and pieces because it's protecting their natural tresses! It's not to fake the funk or pretend to be something else, it's because of all the heat tools and products used daily! I laughed out loud at the original video, and I could tell they are friends in everyday life. It wasn't fair for Blaine to be called all those names!

[Davesbahamianboo116]

I LITERALLY SCREAMED OUT LAUGHING... @ 2:57... When he said he got one too many lace fronts... !!!! LOL !!!!

[tuxu14]

Blake is more open minded and accepting of black hair than some black people.

[345jubilee]

that weave is hot!!

[mimimason]

Laila the 757 has an active natural hair community, check out Hampton Roads Naturals

[zamyllion]

these guys are great! i would watch them if they were in my city

[skyway2006]

i feel like they should get married.

[FeloniousDrunk]

She looks better with the natural look . . . just saying.

[KayelaBella]

lord her hair is GORGEOUS!!!

[dtownjbrown]

Thanks for sharing. I actually had an epiphany while watching this video.

Some people wear weaves as a choice (i.e. for convenience or to protect hair from damage). Some wear weaves as a necessity (i.e. to hide/cover up balding, thinning, breakage, etc). It seems those with unhealthy hair conditions are the ones who take "real" offense to others knowing while those of us with healthy and/or natural hair don't take it as seriously.

thanks again :-)

[thsongstress]

Now Blaine I know I taught you better than that...You've worked with black chicks too long! LOL...Oh yeah this is Kim D

[Jampopper]

Haha that's too cute

[MickiNRooney]

She shouldn't wear all of that crap anyway. We want to see the natural and healthy hair. LOL

[godsflame2]

That original vid was so funny. I was cracking up. Yall both were dumb founded and just got outta there! Too cute, I can see how that could happen if you guys are use to being so casual with each other. Great Video!

[msbuki2u]

laila, i understand why you wear a weave (and i don't see anything wrong with them), i am sad that you have been made to feel you cannot wear your beautiful, natural hair on air. i challenge your producer to let you be who you really are!!

[PlainRayna]

I love you two. I want to watch you channel now.

[BSMART18]

The main issue isn't Blaine, it's the fact that Laila doesn't feel she can wear her natural hair on air...it isn't the look that her boss wants. I think its sad because Laila's fro is gorgeous! I my opinion, she looks better with her natural hair than with an ordinary weave. As a natural young African-American woman, I wasn't offended at all by Blaine. I thought the whole clip was hilarious!!! So keep up the good work guys. I hope the day comes that Laila can wear her natural hair out and pride!

[denimpixie]

LOL at the names they were calling you. A bit over the top, but expected.

[Goddessofmydestiny]

You guys are a great team! So refreshing to see real dialog. He was just being a man. He did not know "the rule". My boyfriend has made similar mistakes. LOL

[consie35]

You guys have GREAT chemistry! I think you both should continue doing behind the sense YouTube videos, I would defiantly subscribe. I too have been called out and/or questioned by co-workers about my breads, weaves. For the past 10 years I did not feel confortable wearing my natural at my job. Now I didn't care what people in my office thinks and started wearing my natural hair in Sept. I was shocked on how many people in my office loved my natural hair. I think educating my co-works helped!

[southernfriedpeaches]

OMGoodness!! ii love them!!! HeY!!!! if he is single and she is single why don't they go out and have a couple of drinks if you get my drift? [smile and eyebrows wiggle]

[IamLyricMarley]

love these 2

[pennytricia1]

keep doing you,weave or not,you look fab.

[supajenny]

unbeweaveable! hahahah in all honesty, i really dislike weaves and i really dislike it when people claim theyre "natural".

[melee731]

I found the original video funny with nothing racist about it all, it was like watching best friends with an inside joke. This rebuttal only shows that thought to be true. I hate you had to respond to sensless negativity but I'm glad I got to see yall cutting up again!

[chilid856]

You guys are silly. I know that you have to do what you have to do for your career. Do you Laila and what you have to do. I found the original clip funny. I didn't find it offensive at all.

[embracingnatural]

I hope he doesn't think that NORMAL people watching the video thought he was racist or ignorant. Thank you for posting this followup, it shows how much you two value each other as co-workers and friends.

[jchath]

Who cares if it is a weave or not? She looks pretty!!

[PhelanKA7]

I think her natural hair is much sexier.

[mschelly17]

People need not make a big deal about it, ITS JUST HAIR. Love this. Thanks Blaine and Laila.

[NinjaBooKitty]

Let's perpetuate the ridiculousness by having a big huge apology on air about some bullshit. If you wear anything fake, you run the risk of getting called out. Get over it already.

[natsbetter]

These people are so fake its unbelievable especially cue ball.

[LocdSister]

I never understand why women who wear weaves feel that they have to explain why they wear them.

[dav8d777]

It's good to watch two adults work through something in a healthy way.

[MrJ5594]

Great !!!

[crimzon5]

um..he's sitting a little close in her personal space-he might be attracted to her lol...

[NinjaBooKitty]

@crimzon5 They sit close because they have to fit in the camera frame dumbass.

[Applebaum]

she should wear her afro on air

[msdonna2008]

You are a GROWN WOMAN. If you want to rock a platinum blonde afro one day, an auburn colored shoulder length wrapped style the next day and shave your head 2 days later-all in the same week, it is your head and your hair. Wear whatever hairstyle, length or color you choose, depending on your mood at that time. DO YOU!

[baglady4112000]

@msdonna2008 It's not that simple, I am a broadcaster for the Army and fully understand why she has wear sew-ins. The world isn't ready to have a kinky haired women giving them information. Heck they still aren't accepting my Commander in Chief!

[GooGoo32]

LOL This is hilarious. I laughed out loud when he read off the list of things people called him. I wish they came on in Chicago. I would watch these 2.

[Jujubee58]

Unfortunately, those in charge feel a Black woman's natural hair will alienate viewers i.e. Whites; cuz we know they don't give two craps about what Black people think!

[bambizzoozled]

They are unbearable.

[relentless]

Lol at this clip. I'm glad Laila had that reality check and that it helped her to open up and embrace the truth. The reason she didn't address the truth up front (clearly) is because of the deep-seated insecurity related to wearing a weave and (yes) the shock that came with it. A weave is just part of life's smoke & mirrors; trickery that may get you the job, get you the notoriety, get you the man, or help u to "fit in" in a world that is so superficial/pushing us to do superficial things #truth

[mimi504]

@relentless WELL SAID!

[cjnatural]

Laila,

I have been natural off and on for years. Do you mean to tell me that you cannot find a stylish natural hair style to wear on the air? A Twist-out, Braid-out or an updo? Perhaps you can be a game changer like Blaine and mover away from the same old cookie cutter Anchor, with the same old style. Blaine would not have a job as an Anchor with his bald hair. So tell your Producer to relax and let's see if the both of you could make tv history. Signing out from Boston, MA.

[baglady4112000]

So again, is he single and attracted to black women? LOL

[baglady4112000]

I love that he knows the difference between the types of weaves! Is he single and does he like black women or rather attracted to black women?!?! Lol!

[JourneytomyRoots]

I swear I'm gonna have to start recording you guys! HILARIOUS! You guys make a GREAT team!

[Auragirl86]

LMAO @ the fact that he knows the difference between a quick-weave, lacefront and sew-in! AHAHAHA!!!

[brionnakennedy]

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO @ MESSY BALD-HEADED QUEEN... but its a shame that black hair is STILL considered inferior and not adequate for TV

[EbonyHairedPrincess]

This is still a hot mess, but hilarious. You two are adorable and I'm glad you did a rebuttal......"messy, bald-headed queen"....ROFL!

[taibeach]

i love your natural hair but in that business i can understand you need to wear a protective style. You two are too are too cute!!!

[GrandmaNettie]

Laila, perhaps some day soon your producers will realize that this is 2011and that most viewers would love to see you anchoring with Blaine with your natural hair! That being said... I totally loved the "So, apparently you're not supposed to call out your co-anchor's weave on-air?" and this rebuttal!!!!!

[SOliloquy890]

Awwww this is beautiful, brought a tear to my eye

[MopTopHair]

Blaine and Laila! That is awesome! I love your transparency. Laila, I have a dear friend that is a weather anchor with amazing kinky-coily hair in west Texas that is NOT allowed to wear it naturally, it makes me sad because she is so beautiful, and she HAS to straighten it. I look forward to the day that wearing hair Naturally is more widely accepted. Until then you rock on with your beautiful natural & weave. Kudos to you for figuring out how to Live in both worlds & keeping your natural hair!

[Manillo]

"we all know in the newsroom who has on a weave...and i'm not the only one..."

LOL!

[EquivocallyAbsurd]

I applaud this woman and her sense of humor, something many people today lack :)

[ceenahoo]

Blaine- It's so appealing to see a man who is willing to learn, accepting of, and comfortable with learning about a nuanced issue such as black girls' hair. Lord knows many men aren't' quite as open...and Laila: Good work on edumacatin' the dude! ;) cheers!

[francinedaddyb]

y'all are too cute!!! i wish my news anchors in columbus, oh were more like you two!!! i bet your show is so fun to watch! :)

[TheSweetBabyTaz]

Omg really?

White people have been fascinated with our hair since they first snatched one of US. And..(jessica, paris et al selling extensions...)... WEAVES ARE the new trend with the IN Crowd! And as usual WE started it. But FUBU don't mean a thing to the flavaless.

So now getting yo hair did with some sewn in wig is Haute Riguer! So wear it and if you don't wanna declare it use my old pass...yeah it's my hair! I payed good wages for this #22 silky straight¡

everybody ain't able. ; )

[ItsMeTashia]

the video was funny if folks were offended...have several seats! you can clearly tell, that they were having fun, and it was pure friendship....

[umf09]

and laila - plse believe - weave, natural, plugs or bald-headed - u could eat limberger and crackers in my bed. *all* day. rrrrrrrrrrooooooowwwwwr!

[umf09]

blaine and laila - iHolla'd at the original. iCried - just a little bit - during this rebuttal. i almost neva eva comment on what i see on these innanets. so before ur first vid goes mad viral (not sure ppl will ever even see this rebuttal. it wasnt until about the 91st time i had hit replay on the first vid that i managed to regain composure and scroll down and see it.) i wanted to say kudos to you two for the most authentic on-air interaction i have *ever* seen.

[slmorgan07]

I love these two!!!!!!!!!

[emaresea]

Laila, I love you, but the weaves are taking out your hairline. Tell your producers to go f--- themselves and wear your real hair, natural texture and all, on the air.

[newarksgreatest]

I still think he's a skinhead.

[mcdowell716]

I LOVE THESE TWO!! I wish I could watch them here in Minneapolis!

[JoeTheGreat08]

well alot of females have weaves.. LOLLLLL... aint nothing wrong with it.. NOW GIRLS WITHOUT WEAVES.... WE GOT A ISSUES SOME BITCHES LOOK BALD HEADED

[TheTopwaves]

She looks like DR. Dre when she shows the picture of her natural hair

[ABC57News]

Fake or not, at least she has hair.

[msnubootysux]

funny shit lmao

[NaturalManeNYC]

Thanks for posting this. Our hair is versatile and can be fabulous in all the various states: relaxed, texlaxed, natural, weaved or using wigs.

I'm in NYC but will be watching WTKR while at home in Virginia Beach for the holidays. I love the energy between you two!

[eliminator3]

Did Blaine say "News Wife"? HAHA!! That's awesome! He just made a lot of people in the Greater Hampton Roads area jealous due to that statement... Myself included =)... Love you guys!

[Mr40acresandamule]

@eliminator3 Yeah, but that is just a phrase.

[debpen]

Have a new found respect for you Laila. I've been wearing weaves since 1977. They can be a black woman's best friend. I work in the courts and an afro would probably be unfortunately frowned upon, not openly, but definitely subtly. Call it what you want, it makes life easier. To those natural sistas and guys who have a problem with it, more power to them.  Live and let live.

[phoenics1908]

@debpen It does make it easier to "conform", but I wish sistas didn't have to. I wear my hair natural - I work for a large accounting firm... and I haven't encountered any problems. I think that if more sistas simply went natural and then filed lawsuits when they were discriminated against, this subtle racist message of "conform or else" would finally die.

[oldschoolruler]

@phoenics1908 I concur.

[trinimaican2501]

Love the Energy between you two! :)

[justicefighter]

cute! Glad that you all posed this video!

[BjorBey]

This is a very cool video. I like the chemistry and the relationship you guys apparently have! Much props to you both!

[cleoclaus69]

Much props to you guys for posting this video; I wish we could all be as candid, mature, intelligent and easygoing about this subject, whether we rock naturals, relaxer or weave! You guys made my day by keeping it real. :-D

[MultiLadyvirgo]

***Now!!!!!****

[MultiLadyvirgo]

Awww!!! I enjoy laila and blaine!! Know if she could reveal the stylist we will be in tip top shape,,,I must remember that name,,,I prefer 1B!!!!! Smooches!!!!

[2onyandrews]

because most things are. you are so saturated in whiteness that you couldn’t spot a racial complexity if it reach out and slapped you.

[TEESALSAS]

I liked the on-air flub and this explanation! It shows that humans report the news not robots. I can tell that Blaine and Laila are cool with each other and if they are we should be too. There is too much drama in the world already to not be able to laugh at ourselves! We are not our hair!

[Aritul]

Thanks for posting this.

[2onyandrews]

Laila basically says that the news station is racist and culture intolerant.

[TheSpectr1275]

@2onyandrews WHY in the F*&K does EVERY f'ing thing have to turn into RACISM? God DAMNIT. ALL you racist out there just F'ing die. I'm so SICK of these racist based comments.

[AahirahNimat]

@TheSpectr1275 1st, I think it was a bit of a tongue-in-cheek comment, so let's calm down a bit. 2nd, because Laila said the news station preferred her hair a certain way, it implies that they are culture intolerant, & some may see this as racist. It must be noted that a lot companies are intolerant to a culture that isn't their corporate culture. They are intolerant to jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, & untied, long or big hair. That doesn't mean it's bad or racist, nor does it mean it's not.

[TheSpectr1275]

@AahirahNimat Ya know, that was the most intelligent response I've EVER received back. Thank you. Although I do understand your P.O.V., as well as the fact that I can agree with you, you can understand what I mean in regards to "race" or "racism" being brought into nearly EVERY imaginable situation that involves atleast 2 people of different ethnic backgrounds with some sort of "conflict", albeit minor, or the least bit of "confrontation" despite the obvious fact that it was clearly harmless.

[AahirahNimat]

@TheSpectr1275 Thank you for the compliment, and I totally hear you!  It's such a pleasure to see we can have a respectable exchange. It's clear that Laila and Blaine have an incredible rapport, and are no hate-mongers.

[cumensu]

@2onyandrews, she didn't necessarily say they don't like her natural hair because she was black. Some whites might not fit the station's standard.

[2onyandrews]

@cumensu come on...that is exactly whats going on. Natural black hair style is not the Standard of professionalism and beauty. Which is racial and bias and perpetuating white supremacy as the standard