Desperate Allen: Singer 'exploiting Black women' in comeback video

British pop singer, Lily Allen, is back and causing controversy in the process.  It’s been four years since Allen has released any music, but her new single, Hard Out Here, pokes fun at the recent misogyny in pop culture, by parodying the likes of Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus and others.

Allen’s single speaks about the issues there are with being a woman in the music business. From body image, to being referred to as bitches, Allen doesn’t leave a music industry stone unturned. But some people feel that her satirical look at pop culture was made at the expense of Black woman.

It’s the same concept used in plenty of Miley’s most recent “music” endeavours, but even though Allen’s video is satire, she found herself defending it via Twitter as well as addressing her own issues with her body:

Privilege,Superiority and Misconceptions:

1. If anyone thinks for a second that I requested specific ethnicities for the video, they’re wrong.

2. If anyone thinks that after asking the girls to audition, I was going to send any of them away because of the colour of their skin, they’re wrong.

3. The message is clear. Whilst I don’t want to offend anyone. I do strive to provoke thought and conversation. The video is meant to be a light-hearted satirical video that deals with objectification of women within modern pop culture. It has nothing to do with race, at all.

4. If I could dance like the ladies can, it would have been my arse on your screens; I actually rehearsed for two weeks trying to perfect my twerk, but failed miserably. If I was a little braver, I would have been wearing a bikini too, but I do not and I have chronic cellulite, which nobody wants to see. What I’m trying to say is that me being covered up has nothing to do with me wanting to disassociate myself from the girls, it has more to do with my own insecurities and I just wanted to feel as comfortable as possible on the shoot day.

5. I’m not going to apologise because I think that would imply that I’m guilty of something, but I promise you this, in no way do I feel superior to anyone, except paedophiles, rapists murderers etc., and I would not only be surprised but deeply saddened if I thought anyone came away from that video feeling taken advantage of,or compromised in any way.

6. Ask the ladies yourselves @shalaeuroasia @monique_Lawz @ceodancers @TempleArtist@SelizaShowtime @melycrisp“

However, Black female commentators on the life and culture website Clutch were scathing in their criticism of Allen:

“Mr. Man” wrote:

November 14, 2013 at 10:40 am

Talk about complete failure. Cain’t sing, at all. The music itself is garbage, the message grossly cancelled itself out no doubt due to the need to make money at the end of the day (she’s too talentless to effectively do both). Keep in mind this video isn’t a YouTube joke, it’s a full on production meant to sell units which is controlled and financed by white men in tailored suits who only follow known money trails. It’s been the same ingredients since the late 80′s and 90′s. Sexual images that stimulates absolutely, the use of women that can do it right every time and on demand with the FULL physical package, i.e. professional BLACK (sometimes Latin) dancers with a strong adult industry (stripper) background. This women’s message was a total lost in (industry standard) translation. No matter the angle she tries to explain her message it fails. And no I couldn’t watch the whole video, it’s the same’ole disgusting.

“lil ray” wrote:

November 14, 2013 at 10:48 am

But if only there were not so many Black Women willing and ready to let themselves be objectified by anyone be it Lilly or Lil Wayne.

This is a Black Woman issue here.

“ J” wrote:

November 14, 2013 at 12:58 pm

Thank you!!! Lily Allen is not even on my radar. Most of the MFers who claim to hate the system actually love it and profit from it. She created controversy for record sales. It is no coincidence that she uses this song and video after a 4 year absence (in which no one missed her– or at least I didn’t) from the music scene to gain relevancy. But fuck her for a moment and I think the BIGGER and BETTER question that black women need to ask themselves is why do SOME black women allow themselves to be used by a Lily Allen or Miley Cyrus or Lil Wayne Or Drake or Kendrick Lamar. All money ain’t good money and self-respect is more valuable than gold. I feel sorry for those who look at this white girl as the only problem. One thing that Bill Cosby said that I agree with is (and I’m paraphrasing) ” I don’t care what white people do. I was raised to not think about them.” Meaning that we should be concerned with our well being and let stupid/racist white people(not all are) do what they do best. Not that we shouldn’t protest and let our concerns be heard, but the best way you can hurt a white person is cut their check short. So instead of arguing with Lily Allen’s lily white ass on twitter pay that heifa dust and don’t buy her shit. We have bigger fish to fry. BLACK GIRLS ROCK!!!

“Afrostyling” wrote:

November 14, 2013 at 11:40 am

At what point are we going to talk about the idiot Black women who sign up for these things? Do they not have some kind of agency in all this?