Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel has publicly expressed regret over his past decision to bleach his skin, declaring that he will never do it again.
The 49-year-old artist, who initially embraced skin-lightening and even launched his own bleaching brand, revealed his shift in perspective during a candid interview on Hot 97 on April 9, 2025.
Reflecting on his previous actions, Vybz stated, “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’ve got a lot of tattoos.” He went on to add, “But looking back, it was just as a Black man, sometimes we have those issues, but I would never bleach again though.”
The artist, whose real name is Adidja Azim Palmer, explained that his decision to bleach stemmed from societal pressures related to appearance. “That Eurocentric look… Black people have always wanted to look like that,” he said, linking the desire for lighter skin to the lasting effects of slavery.
Vybz Kartel, who was released from prison in 2024 after serving 13 years, also reflected on the lessons learned from his incarceration.
Despite his financial success since his release, he admitted that he could never get back the time spent behind bars.
In discussing his upbringing, he praised his mother’s efforts to instill good values in him, saying, “My mom was a housewife, an amazing woman. She always tried to embed certain principles in us as children… I wish I had listened to them more.”
Offering advice to the younger generation, Vybz emphasized the importance of education and staying away from negative influences.
“I’ve always said this, even before I got arrested, stay in school. As much as possible, get an education because not everyone can pay for a college education, but try to get an education as far as it can take you and stay away from bad energy, from bad people, from gangsterism,” he urged.
Vybz concluded by cautioning against the glamorous image of gangster life, noting that it ultimately comes with a heavy cost.
“It may look glamorous, especially if you were raised a certain way and you grew up in the ghetto, but it will cost you, and it cost me, you know what I mean?”
Leave a Reply