Trending 15th May 2018 by Cara Croke

Rita Ora Is Facing Serious Backlash For New Single ‘Girls’

"It completely belittles and invalidates the very pure feelings of an entire community"

Rita Ora has apologised for her new single ‘Girls’ which was released last Friday.

The single, featuring Cardi B, Charli XCX and Bebe Rexha, was criticised for it’s approach to same-sex couples.

The song’s chorus references Rita Ora’s bisexuality, containing the lyrics:

Sometimes I just wanna kiss girls, girls, girls / Red wine, I just wanna kiss girls, girls, girls.

Since it’s release, fellow singer Hayley Kiyoko made a statement on Twitter saying the song did “more harm than good for the LGBTQ+ community. A song like this just fuels the male gaze while marginalising the idea of women loving women … I don’t need to drink wine to kiss girls; I’ve loved women my entire life.” She added that the song “belittles and invalidates the very pure feelings of an entire community”.

Pop star Kehlani also gave her opinion on ‘Girls’, saying that the lyrics were “harmful”.

https://twitter.com/Kehlani/status/995059727535980544

Rita Ora has now responded to the backlash, saying she was “sorry how I expressed myself in the song has hurt anyone. I would never intentionally cause harm to other LBGTQ+ people or anyone.” She said the song “was written to represent my truth and is an accurate account of a very real and honest experience in my life. I have had romantic relationships with women and men throughout my life and this is my personal journey.”

Some fans came to Rita’s defence on Twitter, saying that she shouldn’t have been forced to “come out” after Hayley Kiyoko’s comments.

https://twitter.com/Igbttoni/status/996067561052753920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyedge.ie%2Frita-ora-has-apologised-for-unitentionally-upsetting-lgbtq-people-with-her-song-girls-4013132-May2018%2F&tfw_creator=earley&tfw_site=dailyedge

Do you think the song is offensive?

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