-Jasmine Dyer-

Cousins!

Beauty Youtuber Jackie Aina issued an apology for naming one of her newly released candles after a protest slogan associated with EndSARS, the Nigerian movement protesting police brutality. 

The Nigerian American beauty influencer and her home goods and candle brand Forvr Mood recently launched a collection of candles during her 35th birthday celebration with many other social media influencers, friends and family in attendance.

Jackie’s Owambe collection includes four candle fragrances: Sòrò Sókè, No Wahala, Soft Life and Spice of Life. The purpose of the new candles was to honor her Nigerian heritage, but Jackie has received a lot of criticism for the candle called Sòrò Sókè, which translates to “speak louder” in Yoruba. A slogan used to call out police brutality in Nigeria during the End SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) movement in 2020, where many people were arrested and killed during the demonstrations.

End SARS is a decentralized social movement and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria. The slogan calls for disbanding the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a notorious unit of the Nigerian Police with a long record of abuse of Nigerian citizens. 

In a since-deleted video, Jackie said she “matched the energy of what I was smelling” to name the candle. She described the sandalwood-scented candle as “the bomb.”

Forvr Mood removed the candles from their website a day after the candles were released. Last weekend, Aina posted an apology on her Instagram, stating, “we missed the mark on this and it will never happen again,” announcing that the candle scent had been pulled from Sephora shelves. 

Aina has yet to speak on the backlash she received, but some Twitter users claim she has been blocking people who criticize her. 

“Dear Non-Nigerians,” one Twitter user wrote. “The reason why this is receiving so much backlash is because Jackie Aina shamelessly named one of the candles ‘Soro Soke’ which translates into ‘speak up ‘. It was one of the rallying cries during EndSars. But Jackie was notably silent during the protests.” 

Another user said, “People died for a cause! One you didn’t even lend your voice and you’re using it to sell scented candle? Shame on you @Forvrmood @jackieaina” 

Cousins, do you feel Jackie Aina could’ve chosen a better candle name?