Music3 min(s) read
Cardi B speaks out in defense of 'WAP' following Grammys backlash
Cardi B has spoken out in defense of her chart-topping track 'WAP' after facing criticism following her performance at the 2021 Grammy Awards Ceremony.
On Sunday night (March 14), Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion stole the show with an eye-popping performance of their sex-positive single.
And although the lyrics were heavily censored, their dazzling outfits and dance moves certainly kept in the spirit of WAP's liberating message - with the duo twerking and grinding on a giant bed.
Following the performance, there was a flood of support from the rappers' fans - with many Twitter users hailing the exhibition as "iconic".
However, as to be expected, there was also a huge backlash from some viewers, with many people finding the performance "inappropriate".
In fact, in a Fox News segment with Tucker Carlson - which carried the headline "'WAP' is likely the most vulgar song to ever be performed at the Grammys" - American author Candace Owens said that the performance being given the green-light at the awards show is a sign of the "destruction of American values and American principles".
Owens added: "I think parents should be terrified that this is the direction our society is headed towards."
Twitter users were also quick to refer to the recent "canceling" of once-beloved childhood staples - such as Dr. Seuss books being pulled from shelves over racist imagery and Pepé Le Pew no longer appearing in any future Looney Tunes projects.
One person wrote: "So literal children’s books are deemed inappropriate and canceled, but cardi b and megan thee stallion can perform wap basically naked and everything’s fine... What the hell happened to the America that i grew up in. [sic]"
And Matt Couch tweeted: "They have canceled or censored Dumbo, Peter Pan, Pepe Le Pew, Mr. Potato Head, Dr. Seuss, Lady and the Tramp, removed classics like Grease and Gone With The Wind, a classic Christmas song, 'Baby It's Cold Outside'... but soft porn is now okay for primetime TV with Cardi B & WAP?"
In response to the backlash, Cardi B herself has taken to social media to defend her record and performance.
In a series of tweets, the 28-year-old rapper wrote (in response to somebody claiming that kids were reading 'WAP' lyrics in school):
"When has a school made kids read the lyrics to wap? I get it wap might be a lil vulgar but stop comparing a sensual song to books that has RACIST content! How can ya not tell the difference?I see that common sense aint that common.
"By the way Dr Seuss publishing company made the decisions to remove those books on their own .Black people are not the one telling these companies to do things that they think Is 'progressive' black only ask for equal justice.
"Conservatives been making viral tweets comparing WAP to the banning of some of Dr Seuss books as if there’s any correlations between the two ....Well I can DEFINITELY tell some of ya ONLY read dr Seuss books [...] cause ya mind lacks comprehension."
Last summer, during an appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Cardi once again defended 'WAP', saying it is not meant for children.
"No, of course I don’t want my child to listen to this song and everything," the rapper said, adding: "It’s for adults."