Arts & Entertainment
Hayley Kiyoko calls Rita Ora’s song ‘Girls’ ‘tone-deaf,’ ‘harmful’
R&B singer Kehlani also criticized the track
Hayley Kiyoko has called out Rita Ora’s new single “Girls” for exploiting the LGBT community.
“Girls,” which features Ora, Bebe Rexha, Charli XCX and Cardi B, is a song about women having an attraction to other women.
“I ain’t one-sided, I’m open-minded,” Ora sings at the start of the song. “I’m fifty-fifty and I’m never gonna hide it” before launching into the chorus’ lyrics “And last night, yeah, we got with the dude / I saw him, he was lookin’ at you / So I said hey, kush lovin’ / Sometimes, I just wanna kiss girls, girls, girls / Red wine, I just wanna kiss girls, girls, girls.”
“I always looked at this song as a real gender-fluid freedom record,” Ora told People about the track.
However, pop singer Kiyoko, who is an out lesbian, took issue with the song.
“It’s the lack of consideration behind these lyrics that really get to me,” Kiyoko posted on Twitter. “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.”
Real talk ? pic.twitter.com/9EbZd5dYZq
— Hayley Kiyoko (@HayleyKiyoko) May 11, 2018
R&B singer Kehlani, who identifies as queer, also criticized the song’s lyrics.
“Hate to be THAT guy but there were many awkward slurs, quotes, and moments that were like ‘word? word,'” Kehlani tweeted.
“mmm i never assumed it was for men lol just think certain quotes weren’t progressive. done speaking about it now tho cheers everyone happy friday,” she sent in another tweet.
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
mmm i never assumed it was for men lol just think certain quotes weren’t progressive. done speaking about it now tho cheers everyone happy friday. https://t.co/bRVj0tKD2j
— Kehlani (@Kehlani) May 11, 2018
Ora has responded to the backlash saying that the song comes from her personal experience having romantic relationships with women.
“‘Girls’ was written to represent my truth and is an accurate account of a very real and honest experience in my life. I have had romantic relationships with women and men throughout my life and this is my personal journey,” Ora wrote. “I am sorry how I expressed myself in my song has hurt anyone. I would never intentionally cause harm to other LGBTQ+ people or anyone.”
— Rita Ora (@RitaOra) May 14, 2018
Out & About
Washington Improv Theatre hosts ‘The Queeries’
Event to celebrate queer DMV talent and pop culture camp
The Washington Improv Theatre, along with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC, will team up to host “The Queeries!” on Friday, April 26 at 9:30 p.m. at Studio Theatre.
The event will celebrate Queer DMV talent and pop culture camp. With a mixture of audience-submitted nominations and blatantly undemocratically declared winners, “The Queeries!” mimics LGBTQ life itself: unfair, but far more fun than the alternative.
The event will be co-hosted by Birdie and Butchie, who have invited some of their favorite bent winos, D.C. “D-listers,” former Senate staffers, and other stars to sashay down the lavender carpet for the selfie-strewn party of the year.
Tickets are just $15 and can be purchased on WITV’s website.
Out & About
Drag Underground returns
Indiana Bones, Bombalicious Eklaver, Shi-Queeta Lee, Cake Pop! to perform
Dupont Underground and the Washington Blade have teamed up to host “Drag Underground” on Friday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Dupont Underground.
Performers include Indiana Bones, Bombalicious Eklaver, Shi-Queeta Lee and Cake Pop.
Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
The annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner is set for Saturday, April 27 at the Washington Hilton with Colin Jost serving as emcee.
President Biden is scheduled to speak and numerous celebrities are expected around D.C. all weekend for related parties and events.
The Washington Blade is the only LGBTQ outlet that is a member of the Association and is hosting a table of VIPs, including actor Billy Porter and Congressman Robert Garcia (D-Calif.).
“We look forward to the Dinner each year to celebrate our press freedoms and to thank a range of allies and supporters for their work on behalf of the LGBTQ movement,” said Blade Editor Kevin Naff.
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