The bad history
A widely spread meme shows a picture of the 1930s cartoon character Betty Boop, and a photo of a woman looking very similar. There are several forms of this meme.
The meme typically claims the woman in the photo is Esther Jones, a famous black performer whose image was apparently unethically exploited when cartoonistΒ Max Fleischer invented the cartoon character Betty Boop, based on Jones' image and singing style. The meme claims Esther Jones spent years unsuccessfully trying to win back her legal rights to the image. Another case of a talented black woman exploited by the white entertainment industry.
Various videos and websites make the same claim, sometimes with different photos.
- Esther Jones: The Original Black Betty Boop!
- Baby Esther Jones the Original Betty Boop
- Hidden Figures: Esther Jones (Baby Esther)
For a five minute video version of this post, go here.
But this isn't true
Firstly, the woman in the photo at right is not Esther Jones. It's a photo of Ukranian modelΒ Model Oyla (ΠΠΎΠ΄Π΅Π»Ρ ΠΠ»Ρ), in 2008,Β dressed as Betty Boop. [1] Secondly, Esther Jones never claimed she was the original inspiration for the Betty Boop character, and never showed any interest in claiming any rights to it. Thirdly, the Betty Boop character was originally based on a French poodle not on Jones. The character first appeared as a white woman with a long poodle like face, and drooping ears, and only later developing into a normal looking woman. [2]
But there's a twist
It was not Esther Jones, but a white woman, Helen Kane, who sued Fleischer and his studio for US$250,000 for copying her visual appearance, including hair style, dress, makeup, and voice, as well as the "boop a doop" catchphrase she used while singing. [3] However, Fleischer completely denied the Betty Boop character had been based on Kane.
But there's another twist
At trial, Fleischer's lawyer claimed Kane herself had taken the phrase "boop a doop" and her sin
... keep reading on reddit β‘
What do you guys think about her Betty Boop makeover video that she posted 4 years ago? She did it around Halloween time π Itβs not at all modest in my opinion the dress sheβs wearing and how she is moving in her intro.. Also I laughed so hard when I saw it cause itβs just so random from her other videos π€£π€£
In fact, they talk like they've known each other for a long time. There's got to be a story behind that.
For a five minute video version of this post, go here.
The bad history
A widely spread meme shows a picture of the 1930s cartoon character Betty Boop, and a photo of a woman looking very similar. There are several forms of this meme.
The meme typically claims the woman in the photo is Esther Jones, a famous black performer whose image was apparently unethically exploited when cartoonistΒ Max Fleischer invented the cartoon character Betty Boop, based on Jones' image and singing style. The meme claims Esther Jones spent years unsuccessfully trying to win back her legal rights to the image. Another case of a talented black woman exploited by the white entertainment industry.
Various videos and websites make the same claim, sometimes with different photos.
- Esther Jones: The Original Black Betty Boop!
- Baby Esther Jones the Original Betty Boop
- Hidden Figures: Esther Jones (Baby Esther)
But this isn't true
Firstly, the woman in the photo at right is not Esther Jones. It's a photo of Ukranian modelΒ Model Oyla (ΠΠΎΠ΄Π΅Π»Ρ ΠΠ»Ρ), in 2008,Β dressed as Betty Boop. [1] Secondly, Esther Jones never claimed she was the original inspiration for the Betty Boop character, and never showed any interest in claiming any rights to it. Thirdly, the Betty Boop character was originally based on a French poodle not on Jones. The character first appeared as a white woman with a long poodle like face, and drooping ears, and only later developing into a normal looking woman. [2]
But there's a twist
It was not Esther Jones, but a white woman, Helen Kane, who sued Fleischer and his studio for US$250,000 for copying her visual appearance, including hair style, dress, makeup, and voice, as well as the "boop a doop" catchphrase she used while singing. [3] However, Fleischer completely denied the Betty Boop character had been based on Kane.
But there's another twist
At trial, Fleischer's lawyer claimed Kane herself had taken the phrase "boop a doop" and her sin
... keep reading on reddit β‘I've searched this sub and interestingly enough although I've seen a few references to Betty Boop, I haven't seen anyone covering the actual history. There are several popular videos about the topic, such as ""Baby" Esther Jones - The Real Betty Boop", and "The SHADY History of Betty Boop", but they are highly inaccurate.
