Annie Lennox has criticised Beyonce and other female artists that label themselves as feminists, saying it cheapens the meaning of the word and what it represents.
In a new interview with PrideSource, the Eurythmics frontwoman was asked her opinion on Beyonce after she branded herself a feminist during her recent performance at the MTV VMAs:
“I would call that “feminist lite.” L-I-T-E. I’m sorry. It’s tokenistic to me. I mean, I think she’s a phenomenal artist — I just love her performances — but I’d like to sit down (with her). I think I’d like to sit down with quite a few artists and talk to them. I’d like to listen to them; I’d like to hear what they truly think.”
The 59-year old went on to say how she felt many artists are adopting the label as part of a marketing image, saying:
“I see a lot of it as them taking the word hostage and using it to promote themselves, but I don’t think they necessarily represent wholeheartedly the depths of feminism — no, I don’t. I think for many it’s very convenient and it looks great and it looks radical, but I have some issues with it. I have issues with it. Of course I do. I think it’s a cheap shot.”
Lennox went onto add that there’s something ‘cheap’ about using the identity of being a feminist to try and sell records:
“I think what they do with it is cheap and… yeah. What can I tell you? Sex always sells. And there’s nothing wrong with sex selling, but it depends on your audience. If they’re 7-year-old kids, I have issues with it.”
We think we know what Beyonce would have to say…
