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Snapchat Scraps ‘Yellowface’ Selfie Filter After Racism Backlash

Snapchat has dropped its latest selfie lens following accusations of racism, marking the second time that the app has been slammed for being racially insensitive.

While the company claims that the controversial filter was inspired by Japanese anime, many users disagreed and deemed the new lens to be incredibly offensive.

The filter superimposes stereotypically Asian features over the user’s selfie, including exaggerated teeth and cheeks and slanted eyes.

Numerous users vented their outrage over the racist caricature before the lens was removed by Snapchat.

The filter (right) was tweeted by a Snapchat user showing how it compared to an offensive caricature (Twitter/@tequilafunrise)

Amazingly, this isn’t the first time that Snapchat has faced accusations of racism after introducing a controversial filter.

Earlier this year, the app found itself under fire for launching a Bob Marley filter that overlaid a Rastafarian hat, dreadlocks and Marley’s facial features on the user’s image.

Although the lens was created in collaboration with the singer’s estate, many deemed it offensive and it was later dropped.

Image credit: Carl Court/Getty Images