Rita Ora has apologized for stirring the pot with “Girls,” her latest single.
Last week, fans and other artists criticized the singer-actress for her depiction of bisexuality in the new song, a collaboration with Cardi B, Bebe Rexha, and Charli XCX.
“Sometimes, I just wanna kiss girls, girls, girl,” Ora sings. “Red wine, I just wanna kiss girls, girls, girls.”
Some dismissed the song as harmless, but out artists Hayley Kiyoko and Kehlani both claimed the track trivialized queer sexuality and played into harmful stereotypes about bi people.
“It’s the lack of consideration behind these lyrics that really [gets] me,” Kiyoko wrote on Twitter. “I don’t need to drink wine to kiss girls; I’ve loved women my entire life.”
Real talk pic.twitter.com/9EbZd5dYZq
— Hayley Kiyoko (@HayleyKiyoko) May 11, 2018
Kehlani was a bit more diplomatic.
hate to be THAT guy but there were many awkward slurs, quotes, and moments that were like “word? word”
— Kehlani (@Kehlani) May 11, 2018
and don’t make this personal.
i have an incredible song out with one of the artists, and would love to work with the other three as well. & have met them all and respect them.
there. were. harmful. lyrics.
period. love y’all.— Kehlani (@Kehlani) May 11, 2018
In a tweet today, Ora apologized for hurting anybody with the song and made a statement about her own sexuality.
“’Girls’ was written to represent my truth and is an accurate account of a very real and honest experience in my life,” she wrote. “I have had romantic relationships with women and men throughout my life… I am sorry [if] how I expressed myself in my song has hurt anyone.”
— Rita Ora (@RitaOra) May 14, 2018
