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Sammy Sosa: Skin Cream Did This

Sosa says he's not purposely bleaching his skin

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 11, 2009 9:48 AM CST

(Newser) – Sammy Sosa attributes his newly lightened skin to three things: facial cream, all those baseball games he played out in the sun, and, of course, those pesky camera flashes, which “made my skin look lighter” at an event last week, he tells Univision. He wouldn’t divulge the name of the cream, but says he is in talks to market it, the New York Daily News reports.

"I use a cream to keep my skin smooth and soft. I apply it before I go to bed. When I was playing for Chicago all those years, I was in the sun a lot for 1 o'clock games." But "I’m not a racist. I’m not like that,” he said when asked whether he was trying to imitate Michael Jackson. “I’m surprised with the controversy this has caused.” One other tidbit: The former slugger is also wearing colored contact lenses these days to "try something different. I'm not trying to be superficial."

Sammy Sosa, right, and unidentified guest arrive at the Latin Recording Academy Person of The Year event  on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in Las Vegas.
Sammy Sosa, right, and unidentified guest arrive at the Latin Recording Academy Person of The Year event on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
Sammy Sosa arrives at the Latin Recording Academy Person of The Year event in honor of Juan Gabriel on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in Las Vegas.
Sammy Sosa arrives at the Latin Recording Academy Person of The Year event in honor of Juan Gabriel on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
In this June 18, 2003 file photo, Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa smiles during batting practice prior to a baseball game with the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati.
In this June 18, 2003 file photo, Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa smiles during batting practice prior to a baseball game with the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati.   (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 20 comments
Lioness
Nov 12, 2009 9:54 AM CST
Sammy's Dominican, isn't he? Lots of color issues in that culture, I'm guessing he's definitely bleaching. Sammy's been out of the spotlight for a while, he's had the time to lighten up. I'm Nigerian-American, and a LOT of Nigerians use skin lighteners ALL the time... you can always tell, because the skin has a grayish tinge to it. I could be wrong about Sammy, but he looks like a classic case to me. I mean, it's your prerogative to use it, but don't pretend...
ende
Nov 12, 2009 5:35 AM CST
ugh.. if sammy is using the same cream as MJ, I don't want to hear about it. gross.
Nxxxx
Nov 12, 2009 3:04 AM CST
Sammy's been at the cosmetics, sure, but that photo seems be getting lighter and lighter as the days pass. An over-eager sub-editor, perhaps?
 

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