It’s hard for a day to go by without Rihanna gracing a few tabloid columns and last week was no exception. After a remix of her song Birthday Cake was leaked online fans and critics alike were shocked and confused to hear Chris Brown’s smarmy voice on the track, exclaiming that its ‘been a long time- I’ve been missing your body’.
Although Rihanna has never been one to do what’s expected of her, using this song as sweet nostalgia of her and Brown’s relationship is not only insensitive to women who have suffered from domestic violence but also incredibly conflicting for her fans, young and old.
I have never accused Rihanna of being a role model; in fact I’ve always insisted that she is a post-feminist tool to help women escape damning stereotypes and let them feel empowered through the lyrics in her songs. Her ballsy, in control, take no prisoners persona emerged after her ordeal and I can only assume it was because she figured out the best way to get back at Brown was to be the best and show the world she’s unbreakable.
This remix obliterates the progress she was making, pure and simple. I feel betrayed. How am I supposed to feel strong when Rihanna turns to wife beaters to help ensure a little more publicity-fuelled controversy? She’s surrendered the power back to Brown and that, I can’t forgive. Rihanna has since called the collaboration ‘innocent’ and that there ‘shouldn’t be a divide’ between her and Brown’s fans. Well, I couldn’t disagree more. I guess I’ll need to turn to Beyoncé to show me who exactly runs the world…
