Russell Brand Is Being Dragged Online For His Video Critiquing The Feminism Of ‘WAP’
"sorry I can’t take this seriously if you’re going to show this much skin"
Comedian Russell Brand is being dragged online after releasing a video where he dissects ‘WAP’ and discusses its feminist values.
There’s been a lot of discussion around Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘WAP’ song and video since its release last week. For some reason, Russell Brand thinks there wasn’t quite enough, going ahead and making his own video.
The snippet (from a longer YouTube clip) that he released on Twitter was titled “WAP: Feminist Masterpiece or Porn” and shows Brand speaking to the camera about the song.
Reacting to #WAP – Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's controversial new music video…
What do you think of this analysis…?
Full video: https://t.co/68ts6ZsZuw pic.twitter.com/hblm4kQvr4— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) August 14, 2020
His basic point in the short clip is wondering, in terms of hip-hop and the song, if women “achieve equality by aspiring to and replicating the values that have been established by males.”
I think my favorite part of this is the title “feminist masterpiece or porn” as if those are the ONLY two categories things can be https://t.co/LbIsqAf6mH
— Sophia Benoit (@1followernodad) August 15, 2020
He somehow also connects ‘WAP’ to Margaret Thatcher, saying that she was not a feminist because she extolled the (wrong) values of men in power.
Like Russell Brand, when I watched the video for Cardi B's WAP, my first thought was "this is classic Margaret Thatcher".
— Benjamin Partridge (@benpartridge) August 15, 2020
russell brand really tried to parallel a celebration of black female sexuality with margaret thatcher LMFAOOOOOO
— khadija (@khadijamhn) August 15, 2020
But the fundamental issue many have with the video is that he felt the need to weigh in at all. Does the opinion of a straight white man, with a background like Russell Brand’s, need to be aired in this scenario? Do we really need his point of view on a song and video that is made by women of colour about female sexuality? Lots of people are saying no, and that it was presumptuous and obnoxious to think it was necessary.
Congratulations to Russell Brand for mansplaining to women how they should enjoy WAP & their own sexuality. pic.twitter.com/SlXZuFEUc1
— Achy Breaky JenBren (@jenbren1976) August 15, 2020
Hey Russell,
Stay the fuck out of Black women’s business. No one asked you nor invited you into the conversation. Please and thank you.
Sincerely,
A Black woman sick of hearing “hot takes” from people about WAP when it was not created by them or with them in mind— Hot Chickaroo (@blkgirlmehhhh) August 15, 2020
And also any analysis that doesn’t take into account the context of racialised and gendered notions of sexuality and what it means for BLACK WOMEN to reclaim that audaciously is inane and ahistorical xoxo. But also yes ur showing too much cleavage
— Bolu Babalola (@BeeBabs) August 15, 2020
You should’ve really stayed in your lane. What you’re doing here stinks of misogynoir. You are in *no* position to critique how Black women *choose* to express themselves. Your facade of being conscious is slipping and the racist is showing.
— machine gun Kele (@kelechnekoff) August 15, 2020
Many people have also brought up Brand’s own history, and wondering if he has a leg to stand on in terms of trying to educate others about feminism whatsoever.
Russell Brand sure does have a lot to say about feminism for a man who broke up with his first wife via text message right before she had to do a show then never spoke to her again
— Anne Thériault (@anne_theriault) August 15, 2020
didn't Russell Brand once straight up admit he never changed either of his children's nappies? and he wants to lecture us about women's equality? hilarious
— Jen (@fordtippex) August 16, 2020
LOL at Russell Brand giving off about WAP being ‘reductive’ and counterintuitive to ‘female equality’ when he rang up Andrew Sachs and sang “it was consensual and she wasn't menstrual" at him about having sex with Sachs’ granddaughter
— Sorcha Ní Nia (@Luiseach) August 14, 2020
And others are just dragging him straight to hell.
“
— Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) August 15, 2020
When you raised your arms the smell of my room changed, couldn’t finish the video https://t.co/0PmIqDqtEf
— Ju nem (@earringdealer) August 15, 2020
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
If you want me to listen to this you need to put your tits away and have some self respect https://t.co/g9bwy9vtTh
— shon faye. (@shonfaye) August 15, 2020
I haven't attended a party since February but this video has somehow magically transported me to being trapped in a corner by a man at an afters https://t.co/Ph9KC02PVn
— Zing Tsjeng (@misszing) August 15, 2020
Russell Brand: (looking at a mars bar) confectionary, in its basest form, re-establishes not only the dichotomy between man – to whit, humankind – and the whim of the market, but represents capitalistic aspiration condensed into a kind of cocoa and
Shopkeeper: hurry up you cunt— Bea_ker (@bea_ker) August 15, 2020
Russell Brand clearly read a thesaurus from start to finish and hasn’t shut up since
— big time sensuality (@littleidiotbaby) August 15, 2020
But luckily, someone else has come up with a kind solution to the issue.
deal with russell brand humanely pls pic.twitter.com/m27mNNTYYX
— Michael Spicer (@MrMichaelSpicer) August 15, 2020