Cardi B and Lady Gaga were two of the biggest “name” musical women at Sunday night’s Grammys. I’m not sure if Gaga and Cardi had met before that night, but people were talking about these photos like it was “Cardi meeting Gaga for the first time.” By all accounts, Cardi has admired Gaga for a long time even though their vibes are different and they’re making different kinds of music. So, Gaga came to Cardi’s defense after the Grammys, and it probably meant the world to Cardi. Cardi faced so much dumb hater bullsh-t during and after the Grammys, and people questioned her Grammy wins and whether she “deserved” the acclaim. Gaga posted this:
It is so hard to be a woman in this industry. What it takes, how hard we work through the disrespectful challenges, just to make art. I love you Cardi. You deserve your awards. Let’s celebrate her fight. Lift her up & honor her. She is brave. pic.twitter.com/lunY27vn3E
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) February 13, 2019
This was super-classy from Gaga. It must be a bit strange for Gaga these days, to be one of the “older” and more established acts in pop music, when she always saw herself as the younger insurgent. But she wears the Established Pop Star label well, and by all accounts, she’s making some great moves publicly and privately to support other women in the industry, and other artists who don’t get the attention she gets. I read a rumor that Gaga was the one who suggested the “all of us or none of us” strategy with the Oscar Best Song nominees, when the Oscars suggested that only a few nominees would get to perform too. And now she’s out here, using her name to defend Cardi. Gaga’s all grown up.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Gaga didn’t have to do that but it was very nice that she did. I’m sure Cardi B really appreciates her support
This. It’s good to see the support. Her comment about the disrespect is so true.
I love both of these women so much
Gaga rules!
When Gaga was first a thing I couldnt stand her performative nonsense. But I’ve really grown to like and respect her in the later years. I think she got comfortable with who she is and settled down quite a bit (looking at you, Miley). Good on her for supporting Cardi! I bet a night out with those two would be a story for the ages!
Sure! This is nice.
It’s interesting that both Cardi & JLo are Latin. Cardi is a daughter of Dominican/Trinidad immigrants. JLo is the daughter of Puerto Rico immigrants.
JLo gets dragged for cultural appropriation. Cardi? Noooo.
JLo is mocked for being talentless, can’t sing. Ok. But Cardi is a rapper! Does Cardi sing?
Seriously. I’m trying here.
I love Cardi btw. But I think JLo is amazing too.
And yes, Cardi deserves her awards.
And if Smoky is thrilled with JLo’s contribution and finds her worthy, then that sounds like JLo is just as deserving to contribute as others.
Gurl, you seem you have mistaken ethinicity for race. Latinx come in all colors, especially in Trinidad and DR.
Gurl seems to have also forgot that people can be multi-ethnic and multi-racial. From what I know of her, Cardi is both.
@GURL Cardi is Afro-Latina meaning she’s black too so no it isn’t cultural appropriation. Your argument falls flat
Lol. Trinidad is a place hun. Not a race. The ethnic makeup of Trinidad is diverse – but the majority of the people are of AFRICAN heritage. As well as East Indian. As for JLo. You completely misses the point of why people were upset. Motown was originally created because labels refused to sign black artists. It is rooted in African American history. This tribute took place during BLACK HISTORY MONTH. There are a plethora of black artists that the Grammys could have tapped and lifted up for the so-called tribute. Many of whom were in attendance. Janelle Monae, Alicia Keys are just two I can name. What this uproar is about is the erasure of blackness from the Motown tribute. And as for Smokey…lol. Smokey hates black women. Did you know that? He has said and done really shitty things to black women. His wife is Latina. And he’s a horndog. So his “okay” for J.Lo performing means literally nothing. What does the man who FOUNDED Motown think?? Let’s ask HIM.
Cardi’s mother from Trinidad is as light-skinned as Jennifer Lopez.
And yes, people from Trinidad have African ancestry.
But so do the people of Puerto Rico.
So why is it ok for Cardi to do the Motown tribute and not Jennifer?
Notice I don’t do ad hominem attacks. Just saying.
Claudette, his first wife, identifies as black. She was born in Detroit and had a long marriage to Smoky.
She’s just light-skinned, like Beyoncé!
It doesn’t mean that Smoky hates black women!
Gurl, race =/= complexion.
Correction: There have been zero Puerto Rican “immigrants” since the 1917 Jones-Shafroth Act. Please, learn some simple history about your fellow citizens! We are a commonwealth of America. This is how the dehumanization of Puerto Rico was created after Hurricane Maria. Americans easily forgot that Puerto Ricans, whether on mainland America or the tiny caribbean island, are U.S. Citizens, along with those in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.
Cardi is afro-latina. Jlo has historically used her power and influence to take songs from black artists and shape her sound. I mean, she has more than one hit song that features Ashanti’s vocals without even so much as a feature credit. That’s where the critique of J. Lo comes from. It’s one thing to produce your own similar content out of respect for a culture; it’s another to just get your people to take it from a black artist (Usher, Christina Milan, Ashanti, Chante) and release it under your name without credit or permission.
Empowered women empower women.
Eh, I guess I’ll be the vote of dissent here, but everytime awards are handed, someone who wasn’t the favorite gets one and they get trashed on. I love Cardi B and she deserved it and it sucks she was treated like that, but I fail to see what’s so… particular about the hate she received. Especially in the hip hop circle, were feuds and social media slapfights between fanbases are everyday bread.
I think part of it is that she’s the first female to win the award for best rap album, so it seems monumental and over due.
Cardi looks so thrilled in these photos and that’s giving me major joy this morning. Kudos to Gaga for her lovely supportive post.
Her smile in the third picture is giving me life! 🙂
Women supporting other women. We need more of that in every type of workplace!
I agree!!
I’m glad Gaga waded into this — her reply was mature and I think it carries more weight this way.
Cardi B deserves her awards! I love her personality–she is so out there and honest about everything. It’s refreshing, hilarious and empowering.
The fact she won an award and deserved to be proud of herself and what’s she accomplished and instead she has to deal with Ariana Grande who I do believe was tweeting the word “trash” about Cardi (know matter what she says) and other people trying to ruin her award win for her. Especially other women.
I do not always agree with Lady Gaga. But she has shown she is a supporter of other women. She earned a great deal of respect from me helping to fund Kesha’s legal defense.
I didn’t always love Cardi, but she has proven to be more than looks and talent. She deserves to be applauded, and I like that Stefani is using her privilege as a White woman to bring acknowledgment to other artists! A DJ friend of mine recently taught me a hip-hop adage, “roses while they can smell them.” Let’s not wait till folks are on their way to their graves to say something nice. Congrats, Cardi. Heard you’re doing more than just the music thing, and that’s cool. Keep using your position — I have a lot of respect for that.