LGBTQ artists slam Rita Ora's new 'Girls' song
Updated | By Tamlyn Canham
Rita Ora has been accused of exploiting bisexuality in her new single.
Several top musicians have come forward to criticise Rita Ora's new single, 'Girls'.
The song, which features Cardi B, Bebe Rexha, and Charli XCX, made its debut on Friday.
But not everyone is feeling Rita's new track, especially members of the LGBT community, who feel it is offensive.
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Singer Hayley Kiyoko was one of the song's biggest critics.
“A song like this just fuels the male gaze while marginalizing the idea of women loving women," she said.
'Girls' features the lyrics: "Sometimes, I just wanna kiss girls/Red wine, I just wanna kiss girls".
Rita, who has called the song a bisexual anthem, and the artists featured on the track, also describe their sexual fantasies involving women.
GIRLS IS OUT EVERYWHERE!! ❤️(link in bio) ❤️👄💋 #GIRLSGIRLSGIRLS @iamcardib @BebeRexha @charli_xcx
A post shared by RITA ORA (@ritaora) on
Hayley says the song "does more harm than good for the LGBTQ+ community".
"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," she wrote in a lengthy Instagram post.
Singers Kehlani and Shura also slammed the song.
"hate to be THAT guy but there were many awkward slurs, quotes, and moments that were like word? word," Kehlani wrote on Twitter.
hate to be THAT guy but there were many awkward slurs, quotes, and moments that were like “word? word”
— Kehlani (@Kehlani) May 11, 2018
Girls. 😑
— shura (@weareshura) May 11, 2018
Actress Brittani Nichols came to Rita's defence.
"Rita Ora, if you think blatantly pandering to queer women with the song “Girls” means we will stop making fun of you and finally give you a chance...well...you’re absolutely right," she tweeted.
Rita Ora, if you think blatantly pandering to queer women with the song “Girls” means we will stop making fun of you and finally give you a chance...well...you’re absolutely right
— Brittani Nichols (@BisHilarious) May 11, 2018
Hayley Kiyoko coaxing straight women into sleeping with her on records then turned around and got mad at what she assumes are straight women singing about kissing girls pic.twitter.com/GjXJmxGxG8
— Brittani Nichols (@BisHilarious) May 11, 2018
Listen to 'Girls' below:
Rita Ora's collaboration with Liam Payne, 'For You', is still getting major airplay on the Coca-Cola Top 40 chart.
It's currently at number 10.
Carol Ofori and Ricky take you through 40 of the planet’s hottest songs in our weekly chart show, the Coca-Cola Top 40, on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.
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