SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: In this image released on November 9, Marsai Martin attends Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4 presented by Prime Video in Simi Valley, California; and broadcast on November 9, 2022. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Imagesfor Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4 presented by Prime Video)
Marsai Martin stepped into her modeling bag after landing a spot in Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Vol. 4 show! The award-winning actress and producer strutted the runway wearing a printed bodysuit from the brand’s activewear collection.
Her look was paired with long, black gloves, stud earrings, and a low bun with a natural face beat.
@marsaimartin♬ sleepy – soarer 🪐
And while Marsai ripped that runway effortlessly to some, others had more to say about the child star’s transition into young adulthood. Marsai’s accomplishments also took center stage in the social media debates.
She holds the world record as the youngest Hollywood executive producer for her film Little. The Genius Productions owner has also won multiple NAACP Image Awards, including for her breakout role in Black-ish. Marsai has already landed on Forbes 30 under 30 list while continuing to produce work that doesn’t just center on Black pain.
And yet still–keep scrolling to see the Twitter debates a lil’ cleavage and leopard print sparked.
Marsai celebrated her 18th birthday on August 14. Her appearance in Rihanna’s collection had Twitter divided on everything from age-appropriate looks to the sexualization of young Black women in Hollywood.
The debate seemed to be sparked by Twitter user @zoraslovechild, who reacted to the viral clip of Marsai on Thursday (November 10).
@zoraslovechild wrote, “Mixed feelings about this since she just turned 18 but she ATE and she looks stunning.” In a thread, the user added, “I love her outfit and don’t think it’s inappropriate. I’m saying she’s a freshly 18-year-old girl and men are weird.”
As the reactions started rolling in, @zoraslovechild continued doubling down on her thoughts about Marsai in the Savage X Fenty show. After labeling 18-year-olds as children, she tweeted, “you got an 18-year-old walking the same show as a sexual abuser.”
The alleged “abuser” mentioned in her tweets appears to be Johnny Depp, whose guest appearance sparked a separate debate earlier this week. In June, a judge found Depp AND his ex-wife Amber heard guilty of defamation after a whirlwind trial uncovering abuse in their martial arguments. But, the judge ordered Heard to pay $10 million more than Depp in damages.
More reactions poured in, and @zoraslovechild kept pouring gas on the growing flames on her account.
Keep scrolling to see some other conversations about Marsai, the show, the protection of young Black women, and all the topics in between.
While Marsai hasn’t given the online debates any energy, she previously revealed how she landed the gig. According to Grio, Martin said she received the invite shortly after her 18th birthday and was here for it!
“I was ecstatic from the very beginning, I feel like I had to get mentally prepared from the very start even though it was like almost a month out from when I first found out.” Marsai said at the show’s premiere. She added, “it was completely incredible.”
The other exciting part about getting an invite? Working with Rihanna.
“Even looking up to someone like her, that is an amazing Black woman that is supporting and inspiring other Balck women, it’s amazing,” Marsai said. “While being completely universal at the same time and touching on everybody all around the world, it’s an amazing thing to see and an amazing thing to be a part of.”
