Russell Brand’s critique of “WAP” went down as well as you’d expect
Comedian Russell Brand is being accused of “mansplaining” Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion‘s viral collab “WAP.”
Brand shared a 17-minute long video on YouTube discussing the single and some aren’t happy with what he had to say.
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Since its release last month, “WAP” has been at the center of controversy. Amidst comments from Tiger King‘s Carole Baskin and petitions to remove Kylie Jenner from the video, there’s a whole lot going on.
Now, Brand is including himself in the “WAP” controversy. In a lengthy video, Brand tries to argue on if the video is a “feminist masterpiece” or simply “porn.” He opens up his video with two main questions.
“Do we achieve equality by aspiring to the values established by the forces, or authors, of the hierarchy and system itself? IE, do women achieve equality by aspiring to and replicating the values that have been established by males?”
He then references an article by the Guardian that calls “WAP” a celebration of the “sensuality and sexuality of women.” However, Brand counterargues that the Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion collab is a concept already established by their male counterparts.
“If male hip hop tropes are about the potency of male sexuality… and then the female video is a sort of celebration of sexual potency… it’s an emulation of a template that already exists. And is established by males.”
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Brand then goes on to argue that women in music shouldn’t celebrate their bodies and lives through the anti-feminist “male gaze.” Instead, they should find other ways of feminist liberation within their music and creative projects.
“I wouldn’t be so reductive and simplistic to say that women celebrating their bodies using an aesthetic that’s conventionally been associated with the male gaze means it’s impossible that these tools could be used as a vehicle for liberation,” he says.
As well, he says that “WAP” is nothing particularly groundbreaking. In fact, if anything, it’s just another “capitalist objectification” we see in music.
“But I am saying that, in a sense, it’s still the same metric — it’s still the same aesthetic, it’s still the same values, it’s still the same ideals. It’s still ultimately a sort of capitalist objectification and commodification of, in this case, the female.”
Of course, his video has outraged many over the past week.
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tldr Russell Brand is saying that WAP isn’t feminist because men rapped about sex first and Cardi & Meg are just “emulating” previously established male ideals. This from the guy currently “emulating” Captain Jack Sparrow if he shopped at Hollister https://t.co/ISPSugTY3z
— caitie delaney (@caitiedelaney) August 15, 2020
Late to the party but Russell Brand needs to get a fucking life with his pseudo ‘feminist discourse’ – nobody fucking cares. WAP isn’t anti feminist, in many ways it is feminist but more to the point let women make art / express themselves without it needing to be ‘feminist’.
— Ms Faded Glory (@sapphichussy) August 19, 2020
I used to think Russell Brand was quite funny. I then realised he’s a misogynist who likes women’s sexuality only when it benefits him. A white millionaire giving commentary on WAP with no acknowledgement of race. Women’s sexuality scares men like Russell who can’t control it.
— Dr Gemma Ahearne (@princessjack) August 16, 2020
The power of WAP is so strong it got men from all across the political spectrum triggered from Ben Shapiro to Russell Brand
— Hyunsu Yim 임현수 (@hyunsuinseoul) August 15, 2020
Me everytime I think of Russell Brand giving his view on the gender politics of #WAP pic.twitter.com/62l6jX4p2B
— Libra rising (@TheJoanFun) August 18, 2020
Opinions that are definitely not required: Russell Brand on WAP and what it means for feminism stay in your lane mate
— marcus (@marcusjdl) August 15, 2020
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Just saw 20 seconds of that Russell Brand WAP video pic.twitter.com/2q5SWo11we
— Patrick Swayne (@pswayne7) August 15, 2020
Hold on… Russell Brand is trying to take aim at the WAP video, yet his entire career is based around ‘banging loads of women’ and taking drugs…
I’m sorry, is it only okay for men to embrace their sexuality? pic.twitter.com/HZBzTf99u6— ?????? ???? (@kirstyxrowe) August 15, 2020
Russell Brand, the guy who admitted to shagging over 80 women per month, is telling women they’re over sexualising themselves and mansplaining feminism to women in response to Cardi B’s WAP video.. Are men ok?
— Tamara (@_Syriana_) August 15, 2020
Russell Brand’s video and the “WAP” video are both available to watch below.
What are your thoughts on Russell Brand’s comments? Let us know in the comments below.