There is set to be 12 episodes of Cheryl’s “You, Me & R&B” podcast on BBC Sounds
(Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)The BBC has been slammed online for selecting singer Cheryl to front a new R&B podcast from BBC Sounds.
The podcast called You, Me & R&B launched on 27th August, and the “Call My Name” singer described it as her “love letter to the greatest music genre there’s ever been.”
She added: “‘I’ve always had an absolute love and passion for R&B and I’m so excited to share my new show with you on BBC Sounds.”
During her first show, Cheryl plays music from Mary J Blige, Blackstreet, TLC, Jorja Smith, Aaliyah, Brandy, DonellJones and Alicia Keys and provided explanations for some of her chosen tracks.
After revealing her “slow jam” of the week - Usher’s ‘Nice and Slow’, Cheryl said: “Every show, I will be dipping into the steamy end of the R&B pool to find the sexiest anthems around. If you’re anything like me, I’m sure you’ll agree there isn’t anything quite like R&B for getting you in the mood of love, of feeling good, of feeling sexy.”
I’ve always had an absolute love and passion for R&B and I’m so excited to share my new show with you on @BBCSounds, I’ve really been transported back re-listening to all these tracks and I’m excited for you to relive those moments with me. Episode 1 is live now 🎧🎶🗣❣️ pic.twitter.com/0KBZJtTZQo
— Cheryl (@CherylOfficial) August 27, 2021
However, the choice to hire the former X-Factor judge for the presenting gig has caused outrage online as many R&B fans have questioned why a Black artist was not chosen for the role instead.
Really disappointed in @BBCSounds in an age where we are calling for more people of colour you choose an out dated pop star to present this show and not someone who lives and breathes this music, r&b is so embedded in black music and you chose Cheryl ?!?!
— Nikkita Beghi (@nikkitabeghi) August 31, 2021
@BBCSounds producers ignoring all the black UK artists who could have hosted this show... pic.twitter.com/0bbZkraPsw
— Mikhail T (@mjtfreeze) August 31, 2021
“Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s.” - Wikipedia
— Alexandra Wilson (@EssexBarrister) August 31, 2021
Why was Cheryl Cole chosen to present this? 😳 https://t.co/GzMtzS12gJ
I’m not sure why some of you are shocked that Cheryl Cole is doing an ‘Rnb’ podcast, when the biggest soulful singer that we have in the UK is Adele. White women have always been allowed to take up space in UK ‘Black music’ Word to Rita Ora, Jess Glynne, Jessie J, Joss Stone etc
— London Hughes (@TheLondonHughes) August 31, 2021
Out of all our 2021 predictions, we never would have predicted Cheryl Cole fronting an R&B podcast pic.twitter.com/Nh7Rauhcu8
— The Rhymeshe Podcast (@RhymeShepod) August 31, 2021
Loving Black culture but hating us exhibit A: (https://t.co/ae4BIZP0m5) https://t.co/2B3AoUMj1E
— Jessica Noah Morgan™🇯🇲 מלכּה (@jnoahmorgan) August 31, 2021
How the timeline is discussing Cheryl Cole's new podcast... pic.twitter.com/2Ongnd7p7Z
— Jaja👑 (@JajaBred) August 31, 2021
I don’t even want to sound like a hater right now but Cheryl Cole landing an R&B Show on the BBC is just one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen 😂😂
— Stylus (@stxylo) August 31, 2021
While many have also pointed out that Cheryl - who started out in the pop girl group Girls Aloud and then went on have a solo career in pop music - has never released any music of her own within the R&B genre.
So you have never dropped a single R&B album or song yet you get paid to talk about it ?NEXT
— umh (@xkimberly033) August 31, 2021
You haven’t made an R&B hit in your life
— 👩🏾🔬Pfizer babe (@cool_thoughtsLW) August 31, 2021
You’ve never made and r&b track in your life Cheryl https://t.co/2ursbCYiJV
— 𝓩⁸ 🕷 pure souls (@ZaniBby) August 31, 2021
I must have missed all the R&B you are associated with Cheryl, because I just thought you did cheesy pop in a manufactured girl band. Who knew 🤷🏻♀️
— Cathy 💙 (@MrsMurphySoton) August 31, 2021
But she was in one of the biggest pop bands in the UK and has predominantly made pop music…this is a bit confusing… https://t.co/GveKQnc5rU
— D • L 🍸 (@DeeLydiah) August 31, 2021
Her music wasn't even R&B like leave some things alone tf!? https://t.co/XKfPB2BNnH
— chidi abii (@ChidiAbii) August 31, 2021
Meanwhile, others gave BBC Sounds some suggestions as to who would be better suited for the role such as Alisha Dixon, Jamelia, Estelle, Craig David, Beverly Knight Clara Amfo, and Nadia Jae.
Like Alisha Dixon, Jamelia, Clara Amfo, Nadia Jae are ALL RIGHT THERE, but the BBC choose Cheryl Cole (who has never made an RnB record) to be the face of an RnB Podcast?!?
— Simmysim 🇯🇲 (@SimmySimzx) August 31, 2021
Literally… there’s so many actual R&B women who could’ve done this instead. Alesha, Jamelia, Estelle, Keisha Buchanan, Alexandra Burke… make it make sense! https://t.co/BAXLi3nxcF
— bella (@ONIKAPOSITIONS) September 1, 2021
jamelia was RIGHT there @BBCSounds but ok https://t.co/WXavLExvvO
— yaya (@nvncbIs) August 31, 2021
This would have been an amazing opportunity for Beverly Knight, Estelle, Keisha White, Shola Ama, Jamelia. I would have even preferred Alesha Dixson or Ms Dynamite. Heck Lisa Maffia would have been a better fit than Cheryl. How disappointing. https://t.co/dGSqAw5grP
— YT: Ashleigh Louise 🇯🇲 (@axhleighlouise) August 31, 2021
Elsewhere, some people have stood up for Cheryl and her new presenting role and showed their support by listening to the podcast.
Everyone crying over Cheryl Cole doing this rnb podcast is hilarious to me 😂😭 like they’d have listened to it anyway 😂 gen z are mentally unwell and it shows
— jude (@judasjuda) September 1, 2021
I'm not even a fan of Cheryl Cole.
— Gracie (@Gracie_M1984) August 31, 2021
But music has always brought people together. It's something we all share with each other.
To say someone can't talk about music because of their white skin, is simply racist.
What a horrible world we live in.
I am no Cheryl Cole fan but you don't have to be black to host a show about r&b music. Being part of 10 singles and 4 albums that reached number 1 in the UK makes her qualified to do a music show. https://t.co/uThsAeelbZ
— Andy (@officially2019) August 31, 2021
On it already kween 👑 pic.twitter.com/AiabrYlOcO
— ✨ Grant ✨ (@Grantyy_) August 27, 2021
It's fantastic to hear your lovely Northeast accent talking about R+B love you loads 😘 ❤ 💖
— nick evans (@popmaster109) August 27, 2021
I haven’t long started listening and I’m loving it already! I can’t wait to hear more episodes. Super proud of you ❤️
— ✨ Shanna Towner ✨ (@ShannaTofficial) August 27, 2021
A BBC spokesperson told Indy100: “We feature a wide range of voices spanning different genres across our extensive music output. Many of our shows are fronted by DJs who are experts in their fields, others are hosted by people with a passion for their topic. Cheryl’s ‘You, Me and R&B’ shares personal stories from her youth, soundtracked by her favourite genre.”
During her career spanning almost two decades, Cheryl released five studio albums with Girls Aloud between 2003 and 2008 and four solo albums with 2014’s Only Human being her latest album to date.
