LILY ALLEN HAS taken to Twitter to respond to accusations of racism after debuting her new video online yesterday.
While the video has been hailed by some as a scathing critique of the modern music industry, it’s also come in for criticism for the use of black female dancers as “props“. It’s also been accused of facilitating inequality, rather than simply satirising it.
Allen has responded to the accusations with a lengthy Twitter post:
Privilege,Superiority and Misconceptions1. 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 lighthearted 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.
She’s also invited people to ask the women featured in the video how they feel, and provided their Twitter handles.
One dancer, Seliza Sebastian responded:
That 1 video does not define me. Its 1 of my MANY talents and skills. Im trained in ballet, jazz ect and was in Hairspray UK Tour.
If its a bum shot they want da full effect! So it is wat it is! Listen to the lyrics of the song properly an ul understand da vid
