Rita Ora has been slammed by fellow artists for her lyrics in the new track Girls, that she released yesterday with Cardi B, Bebe Rexha and Charli XCX.
The song was considered an admission that the X Factor judge is bisexual by many but members of the LGBTQ+ community have said the lyrics will do “more harm than good.”
In the new track, the Anywhere singer says, “Sometimes, I just wanna kiss girls, girls, girls/Red wine, I just wanna kiss girls, girls, girls.”
Kehlani expressed her respect for the artists on the track tweeting, “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.”
However she went on to state, “there were harmful lyrics.”
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
hate to be THAT guy but there were many awkward slurs, quotes, and moments that were like “word? word”
— Kehlani (@Kehlani) May 11, 2018
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
Hayley Kiyoko echoed Kehlani’s opinion and took to Twitter to share he thoughts in a statement.
“There is a new song that came out today featuring a handful of well-known pop artists that has me overwhelmed with thoughts,” she tweeted.
While she was happy to support “who are opening up more and more about their sexual identities,” she still had criticisms f the track, “every so often there come certain songs with messaging that is just downright tone-deaf, which does more harm than good for the LGBTQ+ community. A song like [“Girls”] just fuels the male gaze while marginalizing the idea of women loving women.”
Real talk ???? pic.twitter.com/9EbZd5dYZq
— Hayley Kiyoko (@HayleyKiyoko) May 11, 2018
The chorus also upset her, “I don’t need to drink wine to kiss girls; I’ve loved women my entire life.”
“This type of message is dangerous because it completely belittles and invalidates the very pure feelings of an entire community.”
“We can and should do better,” she finished.