Kehlani Says Rita Ora & Cardi B's 'Girls' Has 'Harmful Lyrics'
Kehlani is calling out Rita Ora’s star-studded collaboration “Girls,” featuring Cardi B, Bebe Rexha, and Charli XCX, for fetishizing the LGBTQ community.
Recently, singer Hayley Kiyoko issued a statement about the song’s “dangerous” message, saying it “belittles and invalidates” members of the LGBTQ community. Lani quoted the tweet and wrote: “100.”
Real talk 🌈 pic.twitter.com/9EbZd5dYZq
— Hayley Kiyoko (@HayleyKiyoko) May 11, 2018
The singer, who recently collaborated with Cardi B on “Ring,” addressed the track in a series of tweets. “every artist on the song is fantastic, and very much loved and supported by me,” she wrote. “by all of us. but this isn’t about talent. it’s about choice.”
every artist on the song is fantastic, and very much loved and supported by me… by all of us. but this isn’t about talent. it’s about choice.
— Kehlani (@Kehlani) May 11, 2018
Following criticism from some fans, Lani doubled down on her stance. “did i not say i love every woman apart of this?” she wrote. “i didn’t even say it was a bad song. i repeat AND stand by the fact that certain lyrics weren’t progressive and very problematic. i blame the writers.”
Lani was accused of doing something similar with her SweetSexySavage single “Distraction,” but denied the allegations. “i didn’t write distraction about needing a woman to be a distraction because i wouldn’t take a woman seriously because i am not queer,” she wrote. “i wrote about wanting a distraction from my career, but not having enough time for a relationship.”
let’s get into it my love. i didn’t write distraction about needing a woman to be a distraction because i wouldn’t take a woman seriously because i am not queer. i wrote about wanting a distraction from my career, but not having enough time for a relationship. “sis” https://t.co/4iGaV3qfou
— Kehlani (@Kehlani) May 11, 2018
She continued by explaining that this isn’t a personal attack on the artists. “i have an incredible song out with one of the artists, and would love to work with the other three as well. & have met them all and respect them,” she added. “there. were. harmful. lyrics. period. love y’all.”
and don’t make this personal.
i have an incredible song out with one of the artists, and would love to work with the other three as well. & have met them all and respect them.
there. were. harmful. lyrics.
period. love y’all. 🤗— Kehlani (@Kehlani) May 11, 2018
Ora seemed to respond to critics by telling Billboard that the song isn’t “that deep.” “I just really wanted to show a side of me that just represents freedom and the belief [that you should] really be what you want to be,” she said. “It’s not actually that deep. It really is just about that. It’s a free message, and for me, really fun. It’s just a fun record.”