By Adeyosola Fakusibe
Celebrities, where would be be without them? No one to look up to, admire, criticize, despise, or analyse their every action and deem responsible for the world’s ills
The latest furore surrounds pop’s very own wild child princess and the world’s most desirable woman, Rihanna.
Never one to shy away from, well anything, critics have circled around the Bajan songstress for her choice of outfit for the CFDA Awards.
‘Rihanna’s naked!’ ‘She’s gone too far!’ ‘It’s indecent!’ ‘It’s obscene!’ ‘What of the children!’
Even some of her contemporaries, notably Chilli from TLC, spoke out against her, chastising her for taking the ‘easy way out’ by selling sex. Rihanna responded in a typical tongue in cheek way, by changing her Twitter background to an image of a topless TLC.
But what is the criticism really about?
A young woman bearing ‘too much flesh’? Who decides how much is too much? The female body is too often looked at and judged through the male lens, as if its sole existence is to attract and satisfy their whims and desires. Is Rihanna’s flesh offensive because it is sexually attractive? It’s her duty to cover herself up or dress ‘modestly’ because it makes men uncomfortable to see a near nude female body? Why is the naked female body always sexualized and therefore offensive?
If a man had worn a version of the outfit, it would likely have been mocked, but no one would accuse him of indecency/sullying the lives of young men.
Or is it because she’s viewed as a role model? If Rihanna shows some skin flesh, a little army of twelve year olds will swap their t-shirts for Swarovski crystals? Rihanna is an entertainer not a substitue parent, it’s not her job to instill ‘values,’ it’s to make music.
As long as she doesn’t break any laws of indecency, in which case she’d have been arrested, I say more power to her. That maybe, in the midst of eating disorders and body hangups she should be praised for encouraging young women to take pride and confidence in their bodies.
I’m not saying everyone should shed their clothes, but I can’t help but admire her attitude, she’s got it, she flaunts it and it’s dazzling.
Image: https://www.caribbean360.com