What say you?




by Chris Witherspoon | October 7, 2014 at 2:54 PM

Apparently, Annie Lennox doesn’t think Beyoncé is a convincing feminist. The Drunk in Love singer declared herself a feminist during her set at the MTV Video Music Awards in August.

As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s speech, sampled in “Flawless,” played with lyrics plastered largely in the background, Beyoncé posed in front of life-sized image of the word, “feminist.”

During an interview with PrideSouce magazine, Grammy winner Annie Lennox responded to Beyoncé’s claims of Feminism, calling her a “lite feminist.”

“I would call that ‘feminist lite.’ L-I-T-E. I’m sorry,” Lennox said. “It’s tokenistic to me. I mean, I think she’s a phenomenal artist — I just love her performances — but I’d like to sit down [with her]. I think I’d like to sit down with quite a few artists and talk to them. I’d like to listen to them; I’d like to hear what they truly think.”

Lennox continued.

“I see a lot of it as them taking the word hostage and using it to promote themselves, but I don’t think they necessarily represent wholeheartedly the depths of feminism — no, I don’t. I think for many it’s very convenient and it looks great and it looks radical, but I have some issues with it. I have issues with it. Of course I do. I think it’s a cheap shot.”

Lennox later went on to criticize Beyoncé and other artists for their sexually charged lyrics.

“I think what they do with it is cheap and … yeah. What can I tell you? Sex always sells. And there’s nothing wrong with sex selling, but it depends on your audience. If they’re 7-year-old kids, I have issues with it.”

Clutch Magazine writer, Diana Veiga, slammed Lennox for policing black women’s embodiment of feminism.

“This need for white women to police Black women’s definition and brand of feminism is troublesome, bothersome, and disturbing,” she wrote. “It does nothing more than widen the chasm that already exists between white and Black feminists. What exactly are the depths of feminism Lennox is talking about? How does Beyoncé not represent them? And what does Lennox think Beyoncé is missing?”

meltdown on all fronts

She's right ya know.

Annie said this last month. Why is it just now making news? and i'm sure Beyonce and her homosexual fans won't even bother reading the whole thing. And are already planning to blow up the UK because annie lives there.

You wake up, flawless!

CynicKill said:

You wake up, flawless!

Her stans wake up with fat and stretch marks.

[Edited 10/7/14 16:13pm]

Usually with feminists, I don't see a racial divide, but a generational one - where the first wave of feminism was about aspirations beyond housemaking and throwing out old beauty ideals (coveted by men).

I don't know what "wave" of feminism Beyonce would be representing, but to say a woman can't present herself as sexy is now an old feminist ideal that is being rejected now.

Furthermore, I think Beyonce could have had any word blasting behind her on that VMAs stage, and "FEMINIST" is not a bad one.

Tell it Annie!!

I love how someone had to bring race into this... The fact is Beyonce can be beautiful or sexy and still be a feminist and Annie's not arguing that. The problem is Beyonce is still holding on to traditional gender roles, showing herself off to appeal to men and telling girls that's something to look up to. Acting tough, rude, ridiculous, and hypocritical while being a woman is not feminism, it's the Thatcher campaign strategy.

Annie is right. Not just about Beyonce but about how many of today's young female artists are willing to exploit themselves sexually but claim they are empowering themselves and women by "owning their sexuality"...But there is a difference between being sexy and straight up trashy. You can own your sexuality without having to turn into a stripper booty/cooching popping with your barely covered lady parts hanging out and twerking all over the stage, or telling women to "Bow down bitches" or tweeting nude selfies, or singing about graphic sex, etc. That goes for not only Beyonce but for Nicki, Rihanna, Miley, Lady Gaga and all the other females in the business who are willing to degrade themselves but say they are sexually liberated or free or whateva cuz they're owning their sexually. Girl, bye!


And this Diana Veiga is a joke. Just because Annie dared to criticize Bey that makes her "a white woman who feels the need to police black women's definition and brand of feminism?" Why is she bringing race into this when it clearly isnt a race issue? Makes me wonder if she is secretly one of Bey's "Team Beyonce" journalists for hire...

[Edited 10/7/14 18:11pm]

Gunsnhalen said:

Annie said this last month. Why is it just now making news? and i'm sure Beyonce and her homosexual fans won't even bother reading the whole thing. And are already planning to blow up the UK because annie lives there.

I don't know. Just read it today.

NaughtyKitty said:

Annie is right. Not just about Beyonce but about how many of today's young female artists are willing to exploit themselves sexually but claim they are empowering themselves and women by "owning their sexuality"...But there is a difference between being sexy and straight up trashy. You can own your sexuality without having to turn into a stripper booty/cooching popping with your barely covered lady parts hanging out and twerking all over the stage, or telling women to "Bow down bitches" or tweeting nude selfies, or singing about graphic sex, etc. That goes for not only Beyonce but for Nicki, Rihanna, Miley, Lady Gaga and all the other females in the business who are willing to degrade themselves but say they are sexually liberated or free or whateva cuz they're owning their sexually. Girl, bye!


And this Diana Veiga is a joke. Just because Annie dared to criticize the queen that makes her "a white woman who feels the need to police black women's definition and brand of feminism?" Why is she bringing race into this when it clearly isnt a race issue? Makes me wonder if she is secretly one of Bey's "Team Beyonce" journalists for hire...

But...but...She’s just expressing her sexuality in a healthy way!!

Someone once labeled Destiny's Child's girl power-centered anthems as "beauty shop femenism". I tweeked it and tagged it "Fifth Avenue femenism".

Beyonce's head would implode if she had a conversation with Annie Lennox. I GET the chick talking about white women always commenting on black women's feminism, but this isn't one of those cases; if Beyonce's a feminist then there's no such thing. I don't care if you DO put the word in 10 foot flashing lights behind you. You're not one because you SAY you are. What has happened is she realizes the platform that she has and that she hasn't done anything WITH it but shake her ass. Her "Girls Run the World" song was a weak attempt at empowerment, but puhleez. Go take that bad weave out and sit down somehwere!

"You're not one because you say you are."

That's correct.

I want to like her, but during the last couple of years she's made it incredibly hard. If you just read the comments by her supporters, those that think she's "doing something good" with these songs and performances, it's just clear that she's just confusing people really badly.

NaughtyKitty said:

Annie is right. Not just about Beyonce but about how many of today's young female artists are willing to exploit themselves sexually but claim they are empowering themselves and women by "owning their sexuality"...But there is a difference between being sexy and straight up trashy. You can own your sexuality without having to turn into a stripper booty/cooching popping with your barely covered lady parts hanging out and twerking all over the stage, or telling women to "Bow down bitches" or tweeting nude selfies, or singing about graphic sex, etc. That goes for not only Beyonce but for Nicki, Rihanna, Miley, Lady Gaga and all the other females in the business who are willing to degrade themselves but say they are sexually liberated or free or whateva cuz they're owning their sexually. Girl, bye!


And this Diana Veiga is a joke. Just because Annie dared to criticize Bey that makes her "a white woman who feels the need to police black women's definition and brand of feminism?" Why is she bringing race into this when it clearly isnt a race issue? Makes me wonder if she is secretly one of Bey's "Team Beyonce" journalists for hire...

[Edited 10/7/14 18:11pm]

Truth.

aardvark15 said:

I Love Annie and she kept it real in her interview. She gave B-Girl propers along with saying she thinks B-Girl uses the word Feminist only when it suits her... That is Annie's opinion and NOTHING more. I am a Black Male and I am a Feminist. I Support Women's Right's pertaining to Education, equal Pay and the right to choose what they want to do with their bodies. Annie may not agree with the lyrics in a few of B-Girl's songs and the costumes she wears but I've seen Beyonce campaign for the Obama's 8yrs strong and she STOOD proud on the stomping Ground for Women's Rights.....We all Respect the LEGEND that Annie is but she didnt talk about what B-girl has done OFF the stage in front of crowds of people that arent Lovers of her Music...Annie didnt talk about Beyonce's stance on Women's Rights because all she knows is Beyuonce the singer...Annie NEEDS to do her homework BEFORE she starts talking about fellow Artists...Yeah, she needs to sit down with B-Girl so she can Learn what Beyonce has done in support of Women's Rights....Let's keep it Real...

novabrkr said:

"You're not one because you say you are."

That's correct.

I want to like her, but during the last couple of years she's made it incredibly hard. If you just read the comments by her supporters, those that think she's "doing something good" with these songs and performances, it's just clear that she's just confusing people really badly.

Agreed. Her fans won't absorb what she's doing and talking about OFF stage, they're mimicking and valorizing what they see her doing in her videos that they watch incessantly on youtube. A person that says one thing and does another nullifies whatever value is in their words because our brains are designed to pay attention to actions of others first and foremost.

As a "black feminist" myself I don't agree with Diana Veiga. I don't see anything wrong with questioning a popstar's feminism who's main intention it is to sell records. White or Black.

Popstars can bring awareness to social issues but I don't think people should be looking to just them. If I was 15 years old again just getting into feminism and all I learned about it was from Beyonce I would get the impression that feminism just meant being able to be as sexual as I wanted. Feminism means a lot of things and that's probably what Annie is getting at. Beyonce's feminism is very one-dimensional and PR-driven.

[Edited 10/10/14 11:16am]

Beyonce's music (I think that what it is called) is just horrible

NaughtyKitty said:

That goes for not only Beyonce but for Nicki, Rihanna, Miley, Lady Gaga and all the other females in the business who are willing to degrade themselves but say they are sexually liberated or free or whateva cuz they're owning their sexually. Girl, bye!

Agreed. Why does a woman owning her sexuality mean getting damn near naked or completely naked? How super conveinent for Beyonce and company to own their sexuality in the way most hetero men like it LOL. Janelle Monae wears nothing but suits and she still exudes sexiness to me.

starbelly said:

Janelle Monae wears nothing but suits and she still exudes sexiness to me.

^THIS!

NaughtyKitty said:

Annie is right. Not just about Beyonce but about how many of today's young female artists are willing to exploit themselves sexually but claim they are empowering themselves and women by "owning their sexuality"...But there is a difference between being sexy and straight up trashy. You can own your sexuality without having to turn into a stripper booty/cooching popping with your barely covered lady parts hanging out and twerking all over the stage, or telling women to "Bow down bitches" or tweeting nude selfies, or singing about graphic sex, etc. That goes for not only Beyonce but for Nicki, Rihanna, Miley, Lady Gaga and all the other females in the business who are willing to degrade themselves but say they are sexually liberated or free or whateva cuz they're owning their sexually. Girl, bye!


And this Diana Veiga is a joke. Just because Annie dared to criticize Bey that makes her "a white woman who feels the need to police black women's definition and brand of feminism?" Why is she bringing race into this when it clearly isnt a race issue? Makes me wonder if she is secretly one of Bey's "Team Beyonce" journalists for hire...

[Edited 10/7/14 18:11pm]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SoulAlive said:

Annie is right.Beyonce and all these other female "artists" parade around onstage half-naked,thinking that they're proving something,lol.There is no message or deeper meaning to what they're doing.It's cheap and gimmicky.

i doubt beyonce even knew what the word feminist meant, somebody told her she was one and she runs with it.her own husband has refered to her as 'his bitch' more than once.