Cara Delevingne defends Rita Ora’s ‘biphobic’ song

Rita Ora’s recent new single “Girls” has been called out for queer-baiting and having biphobic content. The song – which also features Bebe Rexha, Cardi B, and Charli XCX – has Ora singing “I ain’t one-sided, I’m open-minded… I’m 50-50 and I’m never gonna hide it.” While Cardi B raps, “I steal your bitch, have her down with the scissor.” Ora then sings about drinking red wine and wanting to kiss girls.

Some listeners have pointed out the lyrics trivialise queer sexuality and play into harmful stereotypes. Out singer Hayley Kiyoko tweeted: “The messaging (in this song is) just downright tone-deaf, which does more harm than good for the LGBTQ+ community. A song like this just fuels the male gaze while marginalizing the idea of women loving women.”

Another out singer, Kehlani, also tweeted criticism of the song: “Hate to be THAT guy but there were many awkward slurs, quotes, and moments that were like ‘word? word.’… Don’t make this personal… there. were. harmful. lyrics. period.”

Speaking with Paper Magazine, Cara Delevingne defended her friend’s song: “She didn’t need to apologise," she said. "She did nothing wrong. She should be able to come forth and say: ‘This is the way I did this and I’m going to keep on singing this song because it’s a great song.’

"It came from the right intention and that’s what’s most important."

She went on to say: “I don’t think it’s right to say her experience and her words are wrong. If she hadn’t ever felt that way and it wasn’t true then that would be weird. She’s being proud of something and saying it… she’s being honest about something she may not have been comfortable before. I don’t think it’s wrong.

“And people disagreeing with it and being vocal... no one’s ever going to fully back one thing that happens. There’s always going to be a conversation. It’s why you make music, or movies, so people can talk about it. That’s the point.”

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