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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Ellie Harrison

Megan Thee Stallion says ‘WAP’ threatened men who thought they ‘owned sex’

Photograph: Screenshot

Megan Thee Stallion has shared her thoughts on why her and Cardi B’s hit single, “WAP”, was so controversial.

The song has divided listeners since it was first released in August, with conservative critics such as Ben Shapiro condemning the track for its explicit lyrics. Russell Brand and Snoop Dogg are among others to have criticised it, while many more praised it for its expression of female sexuality.

In a new interview with GQ, Megan Thee Stallion said: “Some people just don’t know what to do when a woman is in control and taking ownership of her own body. I feel like for a long time men felt like they owned sex and now women are saying, ‘Hey, this is for me. I want pleasure. This is how I want it or don’t want it.’ It freaks men the hell out.  

The star, who has been nominated for four Grammys this year, added: “It just comes from a place of fear and insecurity, like why would anyone be mad about my WAP? It belongs to me.”

Earlier this year, Cardi B defended the track, saying: “The people that the song bothers are usually conservatives or really religious people, but my thing is I grew up listening to this type of music.

“Other people might think it’s strange and vulgar, but to me it’s almost like really normal, you know what I’m saying.”

“WAP” has been one of the biggest hits of 2020. Publications such as Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NPR named it the best song of the year, and the accompanying music video broke the record for the biggest 24-hour debut for an all-female collaboration on YouTube. It also had the most-searched lyrics on Google of the year.

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