I think the effect is really about improving contrast to make features stand out. It's effective even if someone is already lily white. Nothing to do with race imo.
I think you're right. But I still think they should change the video. People (myself included) are understandably sensitive to potentially racism embedded in AI.
Unfortunately a lot of these models are trained more on white faces and end up lightening everyone's skin as a result. My photographer friend is constantly fighting with photo-retouching tools to not whitewash their subjects.