Official Tina Turner Wig Recalled Amid Fan Backlash: “Is That Little Orphan Annie?”

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Fans of Tina Turner might find it hard to agree that she is “simply the best” about a $1,000 wig her estate has put up for sale recently, as critics argue it bears little resemblance to the iconic hairstyles associated with the rock and roll legend.

The wig featured on the Tina Turner site and across all social platforms was swiftly taken down mere hours after it went live.

Alternatively,

Within hours of being posted, the wig displayed on both the Tina Turner website and all social media channels was quickly removed.

Or simply,

The wig on Tina Turner’s site and socials was taken down shortly after it was put up.

This high-quality hairpiece, priced at approximately 694.99 GBP (equivalent to around $935 before taxes and shipping charges), is crafted from “genuine Remy human hair.” Designed by none other than Arthur Johns, Turner’s trusted wig and hairstylist over the years, it includes a Certificate of Authenticity personally signed by Arthur Johns as per promotional details.

The Hollywood Reporter reached out to John, who expresses uncertainty about why BMG, the entity managing Turner’s likeness and music, suddenly removed the wig from the Tina Turner website only hours after it was first launched. As of yet, BMG has not provided a response to our request for comment.

Johns insists the wig is representative of the kinds of hairpieces he styled for Turner.

He comments that Tina sported a hairstyle, which was quite trendy during the ’90s and the early 2000s, if you take a look at historical styles.

Johns emphasizes that Tina isn’t visible on stage after 25 minutes, but during this time, she’s styling her hair extravagantly, moving freely, and causing her hair to dance in the wind, making it look wild. This is about her hairstyle, the specific curls, and the color that complemented her performance.

The product didn’t go down well with fans. Within a few hours of its release on social media, it became an object of ridicule. One Facebook user commented that it resembled Little Orphan Annie, while others compared it to the wig worn by Olivia Newton-John at the end of the 1978 movie “Grease.

It’s interesting to note that Johns and Turner share a connection through Newton-John. They first crossed paths in 1980, with Johns working on hair styling for the TV special “Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights“, where the Australian pop queen starred, and Turner made a guest appearance as a performer.

Several months passed, and talent manager Roger Davies eventually signed Turner, who had gained popularity amidst personal struggles as part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, to perform as a solo artist. This move catapulted her career to unprecedented heights.

Turner’s fresh hairdo significantly contributed to her transformation; it was wild, seductive, and uniquely reflective of her personality.

John remembers Tina calling him and expressing, “Arthur, I adore the way you style Olivia’s hair, especially the vibrant colors.” She continued, “Currently, I’ve teased my own hair, but it doesn’t have that soaring quality. Yes, I’m African American, but I’m not about soul music. I’m all about rock and roll – and I want my hair to dance in the wind.

John believes that one reason for the pushback on his wig design might be due to the model selected to showcase it in photographs.

Johns mentions that some individuals expressed displeasure because the model wasn’t Black, however, the individual we selected is of both Asian and Black descent. Despite her appearance in the photo not appearing Black in the traditional sense, like Tina, for example.

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2025-07-16 21:24