FM News
Get Off Cardi B’s “WAP”
Cardi B’s “WAP” is making headlines again. This time it’s because Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion performed the song for the first time at the 63rd Annual Grammys. The ladies didn’t disappoint as they delivered a raunchy over-the-top performance to match the song’s explicit lyrics. You’ve heard the song, so you know the lyrics had to be heavily censored for the live performance, and the words that couldn’t be changed were completely removed.
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation, (NCOSE), immediately slammed CBS for the performance. NCOSE claims; “The onstage presentation of Cardi B and Megan highlights long-standing issues of systemic racial and sexual injustice.” They even brought up the 2004 Super Bowl controversy with Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson. When I searched their site for articles defending Jackson and exposing Timberlake for sexually exploiting her, I didn’t find one. I did however find this article, which only condemns the hypersexuality of the Super Bowl, not the sexualization of Jackson by Timberlake. Is it important to condemn hypersexuality as a whole, or only when we as Black women own it?
Of course the right wing decided to get in on the fun. On Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight; Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens chimed in. “They’re intentionally trying to degrade our culture and hurt our children,” said Carlson. While Owens said; “We’re looking at the destruction of American values, the weakening of American Society, children are being taught to aspire to be like Cardi B.” I have a question. Isn’t this what Former President Trump did? The former leader of the free world incites hate and violence, but they focus on a song “ruining American values”.
These two adult women consensually performed THEIR music at an awards show. Yes, the performance was salacious, as is the song. That is part of the appeal of both their musical personas. Cardi and Meg did nothing but entertain. It’s ok if you aren’t entertained. There’s always the option to turn it off. If you don’t turn it off, just don’t label them as “the fall of an empire”. Black women have enough on our shoulders.
Instagram: @tnicolewrites
Twitter: @nicolewritesT
