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What does Yellow Bone mean? DaniLeigh slammed for DaBaby ‘chocolate man’ apology after row over colorist lyrics

The song's questionable lyrics sparked an online conversation on colorism, the fetishization of lighter skin, and the normalization of non-Black Latinas exploiting Black culture

Singer DaniLeigh is facing backlash on social media after previewing her upcoming song, 'Yellow Bone.' The song's questionable lyrics sparked an online conversation on colorism, the fetishization of lighter skin, and the normalization of non-Black Latinas exploiting Black culture.  

In the Instagram clip, which was posted on January 21, 2021, and has since been deleted from DaniLeigh's handle, the singer can be seen dancing to the song, repeatedly saying, "Yellow Bone is what he wants." As the clip circulated online, people called her out for perpetuating anti-Black discourse. There is also speculation that this song is a diss track for the ex-girlfriend of DaniLeigh's rapper boyfriend DaBaby, who is the mother of his daughter and a dark-skinned Black woman, which further angered people as it feeds into the myriad of attacks towards Black women, who remain unprotected and constantly attacked.

In no time DaniLeigh responded to the online hate, and she wrote in a now-deleted comment: "Why can't I make a song for my light skin baddies? Why ya'll think I'm hating on other colors when there are millions of songs speaking on all types...why ya'll so sensitive and take it personal...gahhh damn." The controversy continued to unfold when she took to Twitter to address her ethnic background in light of the heat she was getting. "I'm Dominican… I'm Spanish. I'm black I'm white… leave me alone," she wrote.

Well, on January 24, 2021, DaniLeigh did feel the need to make an apology for the unreleased song and her reaction to criticism, except it’s unlikely this one will go over much better. In the apology, she brought up how she’s dating DaBaby, who she refers to as a “chocolate man” and also refers to her “dark-skinned friends.” She also notes that “brown skin women flaunt their skin all the time in music” following that observation up with “why can’t I talk about mine?”

One Internet user slammed her, saying: "@DaniLeigh GIRL YOU’RE NOT BLACK OR A YELLOW BONE. #danileigh you’re not a #yellowbone and take those raggedy braids OUT." While another one said: "Lastly dani leigh Dani is not white due to her closeness in proximity to all the other groups of lightskins she is also considered a yellowbone"

Another one complained, "Dani Leigh ignoring the historical context of “yellow bone” to fit her own narrative is so irresponsible. Don’t know what you’re saying or actually referring too, but you saying it smfh." Another one tweeted: "dk who told DaniLeigh making a song referring to herself - a non black person - as a “yellow bone” was a good idea. Also wtf is a melanin friend?? Side note: you don’t know what colorism is but you say you’re ‘Black’?? PSA: dating a Black man doesn’t make you not racist."

What does yellow bone mean?

Yellow bone refers to lightest skinned Black people, especially a Black woman. It means that they have a yellowish undertone to their skin color. Urban dictionary describes yellow bone as “Yellow Bone, is a slang "Mostly Southern" term for a Black Female with a very light skin complexion. Sometimes they are mixed, but that is not always the case, as Black people come in many different shades."