Implicit racial bias refers to automatic, non-conscious behaviors, even if one's explicit attitude is not biased at all. Several studies have shown these prejudices are reduced in white people after being in the body of a black person in virtual reality. Now, a study carried out by researchers of the University of Barcelona shows that when the virtual scenario is affectively negative, implicit bias increases, and even the illusion of owning a virtual body is lessened. Researchers argue that negative affect prevents the formation of new positive associations with black, and distress leads to disownership of the virtual body. These results, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, challenge the vision of virtual reality as an empathy machine and may have implications in the way virtual reality should be used to reduce implicit biases.