India.Arie Faces Backlash After Dissing Megan Thee Stallion And Janelle Monáe For Being Too Suggestive
India.Arie is facing some backlash after blasting Megan Thee Stallion and Janelle Monáe for showing too much skin.
The four-time Grammy winner expressed her thoughts when she commented on a video of Monáe and Megan Thee Stallion performing together at Essence Festival.
The video, first posted to Essence’s Instagram account, shows 28-year-old rapper twerking on stage with a large group of fans from the audience while Monáe stands nearby hyping up the performance.
“Hot girl bootcamp was in full effect last night. It’s @janellemonae with the encouragement for us,” Essence captioned the video.
Arie took issue with the latest video, as well as other previous performances from the artists.
“The issue is what is CONTEXT. Humanity does EVERYTHING. But does EVERYTHING BELONG IN A STAGE. No. is everything for KIDS? No. is everything for EVERY BODY?” Arie wrote. “NO. so when we as a culture make something like this main stream ~ it shows a lack of discretion [and] discernment.”
The “I Am Not My Hair” singer expressed concern for the future of the music industry.
“To those in the comments who laugh at anyone who wants these things for out culture you certainly have that right. Just as many folks have the right to want our MAINSTREAM International export—out Music—to show us in a respectful light,” she wrote. “[I’d] like to go on the record saying : this wont age well and thats my issue. i LOVE Janelle and Meg the way i love us all—And i dont like this moment. Dont bother debating me lol idc and I DO this. For 25 yrs ive done THIS. so read ponder or dont.”
Arie’s comments apparently didn’t sit well with a lot of folks.
“Don’t nobody give a damn what India Arie thinks about Megan Thee Stallion and Janelle Monae,” one person wrote on Twitter.
Don’t nobody give a damn what India Arie thinks about Megan Thee Stallion and Janelle Monae. pic.twitter.com/gRZFJ6VPYN
— The Moment. (@itsKARY_) July 5, 2023
Several others followed up with similar sentiments.
LITERALLY NO ONE!!
— ThePrettyProblem (@LaceLuxe1) July 5, 2023
At the same time, many people came to support Arie.
“She is right. Essence magazine, EssenceFest etc was for the classy, sophisticated Black woman,” an Instagram user wrote. “This is not the EBT awards, it’s not MTV. I remember as a child reading Essence magazine (yes, as a child because I always loved to read everything) and the difference between that magazine and other magazines was noticeable. Same with EssenceFest….that was the for our India Arie, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Goapele, Mary J Blige, Eric Benet, Faith Evans, Alicia Keys, Kem, Maxwell etc etc etc etc R&B type vibe. Why is hip hop and raunchiness now incorporated into it? That is very weird. Time and place and that’s why she said CONTEXT.”
Despite consistently facing criticism throughout the years, Monáe and Megan Thee Stallion have maintained that their goal is to promote body positivity. Janelle was caught up in another controversy recently after exposing her breast while performing at Essence Fest.
“You cannot police me, so get off my areola,” the 37-year-old star sang as she flashed her right breast while covering her nipple with a flower-shaped sticker.
Dozens of social media users followed up with criticism after seeing the performance, but others also defended the singer’s right to express herself.
It’s so wild to me that a lot of the comments are talking about how she did this to stay relevant when her music is based in body positivity and loving yourself. Like, say you’ve never listened to her music without saying you’ve never listened to her music
— Scout the Alpha Dog (@KSmith_416) July 4, 2023
What do you think?
