Lily Allen has been forced to defend the music video for her new song 'Hard Out Here' from critics who suggest that it promotes racist ideas.
The video - which we brought you yesterday - squarely takes aim at the growing trend of sexism and misogyny which is rampant in pop music today, showing Allen first getting liposuction, then satirically dancing with a group of semi-clothed black dancers. A particularly big shot is taken at Robin Thicke, after his hugely controversial 'Blurred Lines' music video. Watch the video and see for yourself.
Pretty straight forward spoofing, right? Well some people don't think so. A section of critics have seized upon the notion that using semi-naked black dancers to suggestively dance around a white singer is unacceptable in today's media, even if meant in jest.
Lily Allen has responded to these claims in an online blog, saying: "I'm not going to apologise because I think that would imply that I'm guilty of something. 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."
We're with Lily on this one. She makes a new music video condemning elements of the music industry for making money by using the sexuality of its performers, then gets condemned herself immediately for "racism". It all just seems a little too convenient on the part of her detractors.
