Black Twitter DRAGS Miss South Africa For Wearing Latex Gloves At An Orphanage For HIV Positive Children

If you thought Black Twitter was a thing for the U.S., think again. The South African branch showed their strength and wit last week when Miss South Africa, 22-year-old Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, was photographed at an orphanage for HIV-positive children in Johannesburg. The pictures stirred up all types of controversy because in every shot, Leigh-Nel-Peters was wearing white, surgical gloves.

We're helping @TheMaslowHotel with the #MaslowSoupKitchen here at Ikageng in Soweto. pic.twitter.com/eM25SPl0tS

— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) July 5, 2017

Leigh-Nel-Peters, who has been identified as mixed race, was there to support the Maslow Hotel's winter soup drive. (As it is winter in the southern hemisphere.) But it didn't take long for most folks to look past the good deed and see the implications of her eating with gloves on. Someone asked her why she wore them while she ate. Another noted that she had been photographed with White children and dogs without shielding her hands. Jumping on top of the negative press before it spread, the beauty queen released this video explaining the gloves.

To everyone asking about the gloves, I truly hope that you'll hear my heart and understand that it came from a place of wanting to do good. pic.twitter.com/Pl5amM2gEM

— Demi-LeighNel-Peters (@DemiLeighNP) July 5, 2017

She said that her intentions were misunderstood and was saddened that they had been so misinterpreted. Then she briefly apologized to anyone who was offended. As you might imagine, it wasn't good enough for some folks, quite a few actually. Because it didn't take long for the hashtag #MissSAChallenge to start poppin'. The challenge featured people, mostly Black South African people wearing gloves to do every day tasks that just didn't require them.

#MissSAChallengeWhen your hands are feeling a bit dry but hygiene always comes first... #MissSAChallenge pic.twitter.com/OD7weVveQJ

— 24th july ☺☺☺ (@smilingassasin2) July 7, 2017

Me looking at twitter #MissSAChallenge cause like ya'll are dirty pic.twitter.com/HHJJ2ECZjg

— Unathi (@FirstLadyNathi) July 6, 2017

Girlfriend: Babes it's been months since u haven't touched me. Boyfriend: I don't have my gloves hun.#MissSAChallenge

— Eksê Vuyi™ (@VuyiTheGreat) July 6, 2017

#MissSAChallenge studying can be hard when you have to consider hygiene pic.twitter.com/QZSn8pbMlo

— Griffiths Mahlangu (@King_Mahlela) July 6, 2017

Making myself a hot mix☕ Note: Hygiene is important#MissSAChallenge pic.twitter.com/Jb94uVZXZQ

— shawty♡ (@ZamaMbuthuma) July 6, 2017

#MissSAChallenge my house mate couldn't let this challenge pass him #MissSAChallenge #studyingthings pic.twitter.com/PxZwdhAgja

— NicoleAdelaide (@Nicole66837011) July 7, 2017

#MissSAChallenge Was at work minding my own business but then i remembered. Hygiene 1st pic.twitter.com/Wf81zsdTT4

— 23rd June (@Tumi_majadibodu) July 6, 2017

Oohh kanti all along Grandma's couches in Soweto was about.... hygiene.......! #MissSAchallenge pic.twitter.com/qt1t62sXmH

— Moremi Mowela (@1_SgodiPhola) July 6, 2017

Winner of the #MissSAchallenge pic.twitter.com/tXsGVrLB5u

— Sefularo Keamogetswe (@Sefularo_Keamo) July 6, 2017

#MissSAchallenge when you tryna go out but hygiene is important pic.twitter.com/0A4XThkmb3

— Tidimalo Sekese (@tidimalo_sekese) July 6, 2017

Miss South Africa eventually tried to turn the joke around and encourage others to get involved and serve.

Hey SA , here's my challenge to you... #misssachallenge pic.twitter.com/MaeT6Q31jJ

— Demi-LeighNel-Peters (@DemiLeighNP) July 6, 2017

As you might imagine, that wasn't received favorably either.

Those gloves are the ones you were supposed to wear in the 1st place. We wouldn't have all this drama. Not the latex gloves you were wearing

— Mphoza (@mphoml) July 8, 2017

you have to put hairnet around your head before you prepare food for people not only your white hands

— vibe wit marvis (@Asavela20) July 7, 2017

The floor is taking an L Miss SA : #MissSAchallenge pic.twitter.com/khoiL6ihAl

— o·Jay ♎ (@Joey_MakG) July 6, 2017

Is it likely that she was wearing gloves when she was serving and simply forgot to remove them when she started eating with the children. Likely. Still, if I'm really eating and not just posing, I'm going to notice that my food tastes a bit like latex. It's just too uncomfortable and too foreign to ignore. And if it was an honest mistake, she should have said that instead of speaking so much about intention. Because once you've become a hashtag on social media, you're just going to have to do more than release a minute long video to climb up out of that hole.

Feel free to say "Hey black twitter" so we know its real

— SLU Q (@Slu_Q95) July 6, 2017

Black Twitter: internationally undefeated.

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