India.Arie has responded to backlash she received for her criticisms of Megan Thee Stallion and Janelle Monáe‘s twerk competition at Essence Fest.
Taking to her Instagram Story on Wednesday (July 5), the singer doubled down on her stance that the event doesn’t send the right message but clarified that there is no ill will behind what she said.
“I HATE defending simple logic, so I’m going to just say this,” she began. “THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH ANY OF MY SISTERS. PERIOD. I am AN OLD SCHOOL LONG TIME AFFIRMING VOICE FOR WOMEN. MY RECORD SPEAKS FOR IT’S SELF. I LOVE humanity, even in all it’s bullshit LOL!
“All I’m saying is CONTEXT MATTERS. Debate that if you want, lol .. but I said what I said. And WHY did I say it? Because just like EVERYYYONE ELSE, I am entitled to my opinion.”
She continued: “BUT ALSO, I DO THIS WORK. My whole adult LIFE.. the work of UPLIFTING and LOVING and AFFIRMING and SUPPORTING the WELLNESS of Black women. And all people at large. How effective I was… I guess depends on who you ask. But for 20 plus years, I ran 100 miles an hours at all times… In the name of HEALING. So, when I see something that sparks my PERSONAL mission… I speak.
“There’s not scandal here. Just one woman’s opinion. But what I will NEVER ALLOW, is for ANYONE to paint ME!! As a person who would use other women for kindling in the burning down of the patriarchy. NO. No. NO. NO. NOOO. It’s. I love all, ALL of the female artists, because I KNOW FIRST HAND how hard it is to BE ONE.”
India.Arie went on: “I’ve released 8 albums. And have myself played the ESSENCE main stage… 6 (?) times? What I see, here is the main streaming of cults, that IMHO should be adult only entertainment. AND! I’ve been saying this SAaaaaaaammmmmmmeeeeee thing for over 20 years. WHY?
“LOL some could say my ideals created a LESS business model, LOL !! But I stand by them because my gut tells me too. SO much more to say but I don’t feel like it. I’m in a BIG REAL LIFE MOMENT and have a BUNCH of stuff going on. Also, in case you missed it… PROTECTING MY PEACE IN 2023. I’m open for a REAL smart debate or a real conversation but I don’t do the social media self propelled outrage BS. I put ME FIRST in my life. I DO this self care thing FOR REAL.”
The “Brown Skin” singer concluded: “LASTLY, INCASE ANYONE MISSED IT! I do NOT make a practice of publicly criticizing my sisters. My thoughts are around ESSENCE FESTIVAL and context. Which really is logic. I’m NOT addressing this anymore. Peace. Why is it so hard for people to understand? It’s crazy to me the level of explanation needed. And why is everything a thing. [laughing emojis] IT YOU! Not me lol.”
Footage of a twerk dance competition featuring women of all shapes and sizes was shared on Essence Fest’s official Instagram page earlier this week.
In the footage, Megan Thee Stallion encouraged the contestants to give it their all, while Janelle Monáe, who was standing to the side of the stage, cheered them on.
India.Arie caught wind of the video and wasn’t a fan of what she saw, saying that although she has no issues with either women, she doesn’t like what their actions represent for the greater audience that’s paying attention.
“The issue is what is CONTEXT,” the Grammy Award-winning singer commented. “Humanity does EVERYTHING. But does EVERYTHING BELONG IN A STAGE. No. is everything for KIDS? No. is everything for EVERY BODY? NO. so when we as a culture make something like this main stream ~ it shows a lack of discretion and discernment.”
She continued: “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. Id 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 i’ve done THIS. so. read ponder or dont.”
She’s absolutely correct! And I think a big part of why hip-hop (and Black music in general) is slipping now is the fact that it’s so salacious and filthy. Essence Fest and The BET Awards have all become hip-hop shows. The women are vulgar, the men dress like they don’t care, and the venues look cheap. We’re better than this and Arie wants us to act like it. But one thing we all know within our community is if you try to speak on these facts you’ll be clowned from here to Nas’s kingdom come.
Yeah but anytime someone speaks on the serious matter, he or she is either a boomer or cringe or a ban candidate etc. so it is what it is. World mentally ducked up
She’s taking an L for this. She knows exactly how filthy, disgraceful and undignified these woman are acting. It’s degrading to the max but she plays devils advocate with them. Why? I’ll say this…. if they were white girls pulling this BS, a much different tune would be played from ms indy.
It’s not that complicated. She’s unhappy with the way that many black women conduct themselves in public, and she wants them to do better. Obviously she doesn’t have to address white women, because their conduct is acceptable most of the time! You take the L.
You missed my point. India I’d a very vocal and proud advocate for woman’s rights and respect specifically for black women. She knows exactly what she wants to say to these two and other women like them but she is not. Instead she is pussyfooting words and that’s corny. The white woman point was to sat she’d have no restraint or mince words with her message.
If they were white, she wouldn’t care…it’s a Black thing… you obviously don’t understand…CONTEXT
My bad. Yeah I feel you…she caved in to the sisterhood, unfortunately. Probably got a bunch of “how dare you not allow them to express themselves” DMs and replies, so she decided to soften her message. SMH.
She was completely right. Black women have enough of mainstream America seeing them only as sex objects. Why are you perpetuating that shit? Like white women don’t get pegged like that like black women do.