Cardi said in her 2019 single that she “don’t need no Press”, yet that hasn’t stopped her name from circulating all throughout headlines and social media. Such is the price of fame, which the rapper understands as she continues to live her life under public scrutiny. The Bronx rapper is one of the newer acts that has come up via social media and reality tv that thrives in being themselves, as she has adamantly remained without wavering.
Often celebrities that find themselves heavy in the limelight are thought to be role models for the younger generation that many deem impressionable. Although already famous, many at one point felt that she was not being responsible for her actions and that perhaps she should clean her image up. Some thought that she should refine her speech and accent, while some felt that she should tone down her image. However, she feels as though she can be who she wants to be and remain successful because she’s just “nasty like that.”
A fan on social media gave her opinion on Cardi’s actions and began to feel disappointed as a supporter. “I love you ALOT but I don’t agree with the messages you’ve been sending us young girls,” the fan tweeted at the rapper. “So many of us look at you as a role model and that should send a very loud message.” While Cardi could have ignored the tweet, she thoughtfully responded to the fan.
I love you ALOT but I don’t agree with the messages you’ve been sending us young girls. So many of us look at you as a role model and that should send a very loud message.
— Kenidra4Humanity ~ KHHL ~ (@KenidraRWoods_) April 6, 2019
For these past two years I been watching what I say and I haven’t been myself.I been feeling trap and sad cause it’s not ME but everybody tell me to be it for me to be this “rolemodel”and guess what ? People still spit my past right in my face so for now imma be my old self again https://t.co/yyznDymIYp
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) April 6, 2019
“For these past two years I been watching what I say and I haven’t been myself,” the Bodak Yellow rapper said. “I been feeling [trapped] and sad cause it’s not ME but everybody tell me to be it for me to be this ‘role model’ and guess what? People still spit my past right in my face so for now imma be my old self again.”
Cardi may not be the picture-perfect image of a celebrity, but her fans love her for who she is and continue to ride for her despite public scrutiny. “So your mama didn’t raise you so now you want [Cardi B], a complete stranger, to set an example for you? She paid her dues,” tweeted a fan in support of the rapper. “Now she gets to do WTF she wants. You are not her, or any other celeb’s, responsibility. She has ONE child. You have full control over your own radio honey.”
Some of the most recent criticism she had received was due to the release of her phenomenon of a single, “WAP”, where although the song received widespread critical acclaim, many conservatives begged to differ. Conservative pundits took to social media with claims of “accidentally coming across the record” and wanting to “put holy water on their ears”. Ben Shapiro came under fire after condemning the lyrics saying, “This is what feminists fought for. This is what the feminist movement was all about, and if you say anything differently it’s ’cause you’re a misogynist, see?” Rapper Snoop Dogg has also offered his two cents on the song, to which her husband Offset came to her defense, offering that he hates when men get into women’s business.
Amidst all of the backlash she has come across, she continues to receive accolade after accolade. In 2020, Cardi was graciously awarded the prestigious “Woman of the Year” award from Billboard. In her cover story, the unfiltered rapper admits that she still struggles with being a role model, however, will continue to embrace her sexuality and who she is. “If you have the unpopular comment, then you’re in the wrong. So you gotta be careful with what comes out of your mouth,” she said.
While she may be doing her music “for the culture”, she is making it known that she’s protecting her baby, Kulture, from the lyrical content. During a recent Instagram Live session where she was doing a lip-sync performance to her latest single, she abruptly cut it short due to the entrance of her two-year-old baby girl.
Cardi B stops her daughter kulture from listening to WAP pic.twitter.com/MbypVqBzUc
— TrendingHub.ng (@TrendinghubN) January 5, 2021
“No, no, no, no!” she exclaimed while turning the raunchy record off and taking a sip of her wine. Although the rapper was trying to enact responsibility towards her toddler, some Twitter users felt that she was acting hypocritically.
“So ya daughter cant listen to it but everybody else’s daughter can?” tweeted a fan.
So ya daughter cant listen to it but everybody else’s daughter can ? @iamcardib AW OKAY ! Exactly what I been saying you have an agenda to push with that trash ass label your with. DISGUSTING https://t.co/OZja54dICx
— Mo_fierce (@Mo_fierce) January 5, 2021
Cardi, showing that she is not here to parent other people’s children, nor is she a young child star herself, responded by saying: “Ya needs to stop with this already!
Ya needs to stop with this already ! I’m not jojosiwa ! I don’t make music for kids I make music for adults.Parents are responsible on what their children listen too or see.I I’m a very sexual person but not around my child just like every other parent should be. https://t.co/LRH3APdp9A
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) January 5, 2021
Check out some of the responses below:
Right? Like, if you're not going to make music your kid can listen to, why the hell would you do it? She's going to hear it when she's older 🤦 that's gonna be a fun conversation
— Elizabeth Ostinett (@ostinettliz85) January 5, 2021
So basically you want everybody to parent your child and make music appropriate for your child but yourself. Sis parent your kids and take away they damn phones if you don't want them exposed to shit like that
— Paulette 🦋🌺 (@iampaulettero) January 6, 2021
Umm its called ADULT music. You know like cartoons are made for kids… I n case you didn't the differences.😳🤓🤣
— Iris domingo (@Eyezlow34) January 6, 2021