It would appear that pop songstress, Rihanna, is the most recent victim of high profile slut-shaming.
A few days ago, Rihanna’s ex-boyfriend and never-living-it-down-despite-what-he-thinks physical abuser, Chris Brown, released a diss track based off of Kanye West’s hit “Theraflu” wherein he calls RiRi out for “smashing” other dudes in the industry.
The eloquent Brown says:
“Don’t fu**k with my old bitch it’s like a bad fur / Every industry n***a done had her”
She then took to Twitter to voice her distaste for Brown’s lyrics with this much used sentiment “neaux1currrrr”, and then promptly unfollowed him. He returned volley by saying, “Assumptions! I didn’t say any names so if u took offense to it then its something you feel guilty about.” And then he unfollowed her! This “unfollowing”…does it mean more than I think it does, or is it just clicking some silly button THAT APPARENTLY MEANS EVERYTHING? Technology. So much better than sending a strongly worded letter like, “I shall forthwith have no more contact with you, sir! Good Day!”
Nevertheless, perhaps if the drama stopped there, we could just discuss how Rihanna’s hooking back up with Brown for those two song collaborations was probably a bad idea, and well, you live and you learn, right, RiRi? But no. In the midst of all their following and unfollowing, hip hop artist, Drake, also got involved.
You see, Drake and Rihanna once had a short fling, and it appeared that despite being dumped by the mega star, so he says, Drake seemed all good with their friendship, even appearing in several videos with the singer post break-up. Which makes his comments in a recent song with 2Chainz titled “No Lie” a bit baffling. Drake had this to say.
“Oh that look like what’s her name / Chances are it’s what’s her name / Chances are if she was acting up / Then I fu**ed her once and never fu**ed again.”
He goes on to mention his conquest’s Grammys which really sealed it for most spectators that the woman involved was indeed Rihanna. Reportedly, this tweet from Rihanna was in response to Drake.
Regardless of the tabloids’ studied exploration of all things Rihanna which is often focused on who she’s dating — whether a rapper, a sports figure, or a Hollywood star — being a celebrity and dating other celebrities? Egads! Not. The sordid lives of celebrities and all the kissing and telling can be par for the course, this isn’t a new thing. However, what seems different about this is the cavalier way in which these two men, high profile celebrities themselves, have deemed it AOK to discuss one woman and her dating habits in the lowliest of forms — salacious rap disses. Sigh. Oh, Oprah you went off air too soon! There are feelings by rap stars to be discussed at length. Where’s the box of Kleenex?
Let’s be clear. These are two men who in their songs talk incessantly about having sex with strippers, groupies, and other random hook ups. They wear their “supposed” sexual prowess like a badge, as a part of their swagger, and as a pre-requisite for gaining attention and, yes, legions of female fans.
Two days ago, Russell Simmons weighed in about the double standard and blogged about the inequity in a post called “Get Off Rihanna’s Dick!” (That title, yikes.) In it, as NY Magazine‘s Vulture and Ebony magazine also reported, Simmons says:
“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t see why everyone has their panties up in a bunch. It’s just that she is out there allegedly fu**in’ the rockstars of her dreams and you out there fu**in’ groupies. You can’t be mad that she was seen walking out of Ashton Kutcher’s house late one night, cause you know if you were seen walking out of Adriana Lima’s house late one night, you would be in the studio the next day rapping about it. I mean, you all got like 50 girls in your videos drooling over you and you dissing Rihanna?”
And he makes a good point. What’s the real beef here? Who are these two scorned lovers to scrutinize and judge someone’s virtuousness? But more importantly have they unearthed a new strain of slut-shaming in the music industry where we’ll see men showcased as chest-thumping, macho, sex machines who can brag about any and all conquests with little to no recrimination and be adored for it, but women in the industry will be shamed for not sticking to some puritanical sense of innocence? All of which based on the words of those same goofballs whose sex-fueled songs and personas walk ten feet in front of them?
Simmons also says that his sentiments weren’t aimed solely at Brown and Drake, however, we’re sure they were the catalyst.
“It’s not just them. They’re talking and everyone is, like, cheering them on. It’s just a double standard. It was obvious. Over the years I’ve seen it, I know how we are -guys versus girls, how guys judge women. I thought it was rude. As an older person in the industry, I just wanted to point it out.”
Yes, it was rude, but more insulting. Interestingly enough, we do get the notion that Rihanna may not be so much shamed as she is laughing at the two dudes who earn less, are lesser stars, and well, aren’t featured prominently in a big budget movie where they could gain the opportunity to sex up some A-list leading lady.
All in all, no, Chris Brown and Drake, you may not turn your petty jealousies and butthurt feelings into the newest wave of slut-shaming, period, but especially when it seems living it up, playing the field, and celebrating your erstwhile virility is how you make your bread and butter.
Shut it.
