source : the age
A Perth dancer and America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders star has severed ties with a WA brand after its owner livestreamed a family member using a racial slur.
Faith Ward has previously collaborated with Kikiva, an activewear brand which is owned by Perth-based influencer Kia Buckley.
Buckley was livestreaming on social media app TikTok to her 139,000 followers earlier this month, and appeared to be doing her make up when she announced her younger sister had just returned home.
A voice in the background of the video can be heard saying “what up n——s”, before Buckley warns her sister she is livestreaming. Buckley then denied her sister used the slur, and claimed she had said “what’s up sissys”.
The livestream has been reuploaded a number of times and Buckley issued an apology to her followers.
“Hey guys, I want to address an incident that occurred during my TikTok live last Friday evening,” she wrote.
“During the live, a family member arrived home and used a racial slur in the background off camera. I was deeply shocked, disappointed and upset by what I heard. I want to sincerely apologise to everyone who heard it and anyone who has been hurt by that language.
“The use of racial slurs or any other derogatory words is completely unacceptable under any circumstances.”
A number of Kikiva’s previous models and collaborators have since cut ties with the brand after the incident, including Perth model Vimbayi Hakutangwi, Gold Coast model Evie Graves and Sydney model Madison Meyerhoff.
Faith Ward is the brand’s most prominent collaborator, after befriending Buckley in Perth years prior to her move to the United States, where she became a dancer on the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders team. Ward was also featured heavily on the Netflix show America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
She had a collection with Kikiva which she modelled for, but it has since sold out.
Ward responded to a TikTok comment on Tuesday, questioning her perceived ongoing association with the brand.
“I want to make it extremely clear that I do not condone or support any type of racism, discrimination or behaviour of that nature,” she wrote.
“It does not align with me or my values, and I take things like this extremely seriously. My relationship with the brand stopped four months ago, and I will not be working with the brand again. I want to be clear about where I stand, as this is something I will never support.”
Since the livestream went viral, social commentator Abbie Chatfield has also criticised the Perth influencer for failing to call out the use of the slur in the moment.
Kikiva fans have also filmed themselves throwing their products in the bin.
Kikiva only opened its first brick and mortar store in Karrinyup in August, with Buckley hosting an opening event for fans.
Hannah Murphy is a journalist with WAtoday covering breaking and general news. She previously worked for the ABC in the state’s Kimberley region.Connect via email.
