India Arie was not feeling Megan Thee Stallion’s Essence Festival 2023 performance.
The Houston Hottie held a ‘bootcamp’ with Janelle Monae and a few twerking fans on stage.
According to Hot 97 India Arie was not happy about the Twerk session after Essence shared a video of Janelle’s performance.
“Hot girl bootcamp was in full effect last night. It’s @janellemonae with the encouragement for us..”
India Arie jumped in the comments- with an opinion of her own. She writes:
“the issue is what is CONTEXT. 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. 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 don’t.”
India Arie just dragged Janelle Monáe and Megan Thee Stallion… ? pic.twitter.com/BKMXNFzDJC
— ❄️?️ (@DiaryOfKeysus) July 5, 2023
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This is quite the hot topic on Twitter see below reactions:
Don’t nobody give a damn what India Arie thinks about Megan Thee Stallion and Janelle Monae. pic.twitter.com/gRZFJ6VPYN
— The Moment. (@itsKARY_) July 5, 2023
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Did India.Arie say anything about her sister in soul Jill Scott? She also had some sexually laced bits in her Essence Fest set. pic.twitter.com/83oDo3G6Mt
— keep greasing that scalp, mama! (@TheGreatIsNate) July 5, 2023
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Tichina Arnold made a tweet about how black women should stop aiding in the emasculation of black men and “Black Twitter” basically dragged her for it which was asinine. Now India Arie gave her take on how Megan The Stallion and Janelle Monae did not represent the black community…
— Gregory Bell II (@BobbyBooshay713) July 5, 2023
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India Arie once proudly proclaimed that she is not her hair.. so she should also understand that Megan and Janelle are not their ass. If they decide to embrace their bodies and have fun, there’s nothing wrong with that, it doesn’t completely define them as artists or women.
— KenBarbie™ (@itsKenBarbie) July 5, 2023
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I tire of folk complaining about sex in music. Sex has always been in music specifically Black music since the Juke Joint. Just more visual avenues. India Arie is being disingenuous.
— AKA The Shetland Pony (@MISTERJ6480) July 5, 2023
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I def listened to the music and that is exactly why I’m not shocked by India Arie’s statement on Janelle and Meg. Lol even “Video” gives a certain energy when you go back to it.
— Daric L. Cottingham, M.A. (@DaricCott) July 5, 2023
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Now the Hotties are about to tear India Arie a new one pic.twitter.com/9JD2ecOCWz
— ?Shay-Boogie?? (@HeartBreakSeun) July 5, 2023
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India Arie is right. Black female singers and rappers are hypersexualized as hell. Sexualisation always existed but you see it was tasteful even when it was raunchy it wasn’t too much. Now it’s borderline pornography.
But also black people love this themselves.
— Michelle Rene Lelethu Grobbelaar (@rene_lelethu) July 5, 2023
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Now we not gonna act like India Arie isn’t talented pic.twitter.com/bSklHMaE7Z
— Ughel? (@melanin_afrique) July 5, 2023
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Why are so many black women attacking India Arie for pointing out that black women have allowed the music industry and television to turn them into ho hoochie mama caricatures? On your next interview, they may ask do you Twerk.
— Annie Banks (@AnnieBNow) July 5, 2023
Comment your thoughts below!