A white MLB star got cornrows. Is it cultural appropriation or just a bad look?
Major League Baseball superstar Bryce Harper is known for his flowing locks and signature hair flips, so much so that he has eight different parody Twitter accounts devoted to his mane.
But Harper, who is currently hurt and not playing for the Washington Nationals, just got rid of it all in one of the most dramatic ways possible: cornrows.
According to the Washington Post, Harper appeared to get his new ‘do from Headz Up, a professional barbershop in Marlins Park in Miami, the only one of its kind in an MLB stadium. Harper’s Nationals are finishing up a three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.
BREAKING: No more hairflip -- @Bharper3407 got cornrows. #BryceHarper #Nationals #MLB pic.twitter.com/3jjHqu88Ej
— RyanJoseph (@RyanAJoseph) September 6, 2017
On social media, the majority of fans expressed distaste for Harper’s new look, with some lamenting the loss of his former flow, others comparing him to other fictional characters that have worn cornrows and still others arguing that Harper, as a white man, is engaging in cultural appropriation by getting a hairstyle that is associated with black culture.
Major League Baseball has struggled to attract and retain both black players and fans. According to The Undefeated, black players make up just 7.7 percent of MLB players in 2017, part of a steady decline that started in the early 2000s, according to MLB.com. Baseball also has similar percentages among its TV viewers, according to The Atlantic.
Someone warn Jodie Foster pic.twitter.com/Xo7KaJqGNd
— Angie Treasure (@snark_tank) September 5, 2017
Rob Manfred: there has been a serious decline in the percentage of black MLB players
— (@SteeloCity) September 5, 2017
Bryce Harper: say no more fam pic.twitter.com/5mfCyoL9AN
Just saw Bryce Harper's new hairstyle pic.twitter.com/A9u1jttAMq
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) September 6, 2017
Love Bryce Harper but cornrows are really pushing it
— Jake Balderston (@Baldyjake) September 6, 2017
Bryce Harper looking like a dreadlocked Ron Swanson pic.twitter.com/hLhbsGBFzD
— Joe Catapano (@JoeCatapano_) September 6, 2017
Just when you thought there was no way Bryce Harper could possibly get any more douchey...#HoldMyBeer #WTFMan #JustNo
— Amy Hayward (@AmyHayward1979) September 6, 2017
@Bharper3407 those cornrows need to be harvested. ASAP. pic.twitter.com/2UUHe7KuBK
— Rob Arold (@RSArold8491) September 6, 2017
this is the worst thing i've ever seen, why are you doing this, Bryce?!?!?!
— DeepFriedButtleavins (@fugularity) September 6, 2017
... pic.twitter.com/iFRrn3Um5B
— Scott Walsh (@scottwalsh_) September 6, 2017
I'm sorry, the old Bryce Harper can't come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, cuz he's dead. pic.twitter.com/Oa2IgbQR7u
— Mitch Gradert (@GradertShmadert) September 6, 2017
Now all them Bryce Harper fan boys are gonna go get cornrows, thanks for unleashing a new and improved brand of obnoxiousness on the world https://t.co/gk0Bdalmj4
— Coletrain (@ColeAlexander14) September 6, 2017
@Bharper3407 did you lose a bet? #Cornrows
— Trey Johnson (@treyJ20) September 6, 2017
— Sam Chilcutt (@snc1976) September 6, 2017
Who wore it better? @Bharper3407 or Monica? @BarstoolNate @barstoolsports pic.twitter.com/U4Fjp4Zhi6
— GD Fore! (@gwdowell) September 6, 2017
Still, not everyone hated the look.
I ain't gonna lie, I love the cornrows on Bryce Harper. He's cool
— JJ Alquist (@DaddyWarbucks12) September 6, 2017
No word yet on whether Harper plans on keeping his hair that way or if it was just a brief change.
This story was originally published September 6, 2017 at 12:31 PM with the headline "A white MLB star got cornrows. Is it cultural appropriation or just a bad look?."