A music exec told Bebe Rexha she shouldn’t post sexy pics at her age. She’s 29.

I only figured out who Bebe Rexha is in the past year. She’s been around for a while, making music and becoming a Grammy-nominated artist and pop star. She’s a songwriter and performer and she’s well-liked within the industry, from what I can see. She got a lot of attention this year because designers wouldn’t dress her (or loan her a dress) for the Grammys because of her size – she’s a size 8 or 10, which of course the fashion industry hates. Anyway, Bebe is not done with calling out all of the sexism she faces on a regular basis. Bebe posted this to her Instagram:

I recently had a MALE music executive tell me that I was getting too old and that my brand was “confusing.” Because… I’m a songwriter and I post sexy pics on my Instagram and that’s not what female songwriters are suppose to do, especially for my age. I’m 29.

I’m fed up with being put in a box. I make my own rules. I’m tired of women getting labeled as “hags” when they get old and guys get labeled as sexy with age. Anyways, I’m turning 30 on August 30 and you know what, I’m not running away from it. I’m not gonna lie about my age or sing songs that I feel will sell better because they sound “younger.” I’m gonna celebrate my age because you know what, I’m wiser, I’m stronger and TRUST ME I’m a much better lover than I was 10 years ago.

[From Bebe’s IG]

Several pop stars commented on this IG, including Taylor Swift, who wrote: “DRAG THEM. 29 YEAR OLDS UNITE.” I enjoy the fact that Bebe is doing her thing and calling out sexist a–holes, but… I’m actually sort of confused about what the initial criticism was? What did the male executive tell her? He told her that her brand was confusing because she’s a cute 29-year-old singer/songwriter who posts sexy photos on her social media? Was THAT the criticism? I’m sure it’s sexism, but mostly I just think the executive’s criticism was plainly stupid more than anything else. If Bebe didn’t post “sexy selfies,” then her label would be begging her to have more of an online presence anyway. It’s part of nearly every celebrity’s brand at this point: being good at social media, good at Instagram specifically. For women, that means your social media brand better include beauty shots and sexy bikini photos. I guess the music executive thought Bebe was “too old” to post sexy photos – so ageism and sexism – but again, if she wasn’t already doing it, her label would be begging her to do it.

2019 Fragrance Foundation Awards

Photos courtesy of WENN, Instagram.

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20 Responses to “A music exec told Bebe Rexha she shouldn’t post sexy pics at her age. She’s 29.”

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  1. BANANIE says:

    After the whole misleading Grammys dress thing (they just wouldn’t give her one for free, presumably because like you others probably don’t know much about her, but she made it a weight issue) I find her attention desperate. Also they let her post sexy music videos which they obviously have control over.

    • ME says:

      Her videos tend to be very sexual yet the music execs have no issue with that…so why would they care about the pics she posts? Confusing story.

  2. Meredith says:

    I take everything this girl says with a grain of salt. She’s the American Rita Ora.

  3. DS9 says:

    That’s an epic RBF if ever I’ve seen one.

  4. Emilia says:

    Yesterday a commenter in the Teen Choice Awards post said Taylor Swift was too old to be wearing those shorts…she’s also only 29. Between this story and that comment I guess my 34 year-old self should just give up and only wear burlap sacks from now on.

  5. Valerie says:

    And how old was the slimy bastard who told her that?

  6. Kath says:

    It’s very common for people to get free clothes to wear on the red-carpet as a way to promote the brand. I think it’s absolutely justifiable to call out the sizism and fat-shaming of the industry for not wanting to dress her. If she was 20 lbs thinner I have no doubt she would have had multiple options. So why is this now a reason to not believe her?
    Men find ways to police women all the time. Damned if we do, damned if we don’t.

  7. Rileir says:

    Meh, I like her. She’s talented and she’s a healthy looking girl and she does receive a good amount of body shaming online.

  8. Kendra says:

    I don’t know her and don’t know what happened but maybe she got general criticism about her brand and image and took it as ageism? But maybe it was.

  9. Oliviajoy1995 says:

    I remember her throwing a fit at a pre Grammy party (i think) where she was performing, because the audience wasn’t singing along to her more famous song “Let it be” and she stopped the music and yelled at the audience. I really don’t like her, but being told at 29 she’s too old for anything is stupid.

  10. Caty Page says:

    I’ve noticed that so many prejudiced, belittling comments retain just enough plausible deniability to be hard to explain. Society also gives an almost impenetrable benefit of the doubt to those accused of microaggressions rather than to those saying something comes across as prejudicial.

    It’s why we can walk away from a meeting knowing a guy doesn’t respect the women in the room, but have a hard time articulating why in a manner that sufficiently explains. His tone, facial expressions, subtle visible tuning out when a woman speaks, steering the conversation away from points made by women. All these small cues make something clear to those experiencing it, but you feel like sound silly when you say out loud. Because we’re taught to keep our mouths closed, it must just be in our heads.

    • Otaku fairy... says:

      “I’ve noticed that so many prejudiced, belittling comments retain just enough plausible deniability to be hard to explain. Society also gives an almost impenetrable benefit of the doubt to those accused of microaggressions rather than to those saying something comes across as prejudicial.” Very true.

    • Meg says:

      wow, that explains when its so difficult to go to HR at companies I’ve worked for to explain how I’ve been mistreated. many respond with, ‘it doesn’t sound that bad.’ you weren’t there, you don’t know

  11. turtlelamb says:

    She’s a total Virgo
    I relate lol

    When I heard Last Hurrah for the first time I said, what a Virgo thing to sing
    and voila, Virgo

    I think she needs to stop harping on the dumb stuff men and executives and industry people say to her

    She’s beautiful, she’s a star, she’s made some iconic songs, she needs to be more secure and own who she is for real, not in a performative way

    We need to take back the power from these trolling men

  12. Mab's A'Mabbin says:

    Maybe it was JLo minding her orbit.

  13. Kimberly says:

    People want to all say women made leaps with the “metoo” and women pride stuff, but it’s fake when you have all these pay to play people still doing what’s always been done to women, just on a newer platform like social media.

  14. ME says:

    The real question is what was her response to that male music exec? She never said. Also, didn’t she have a falling out with her dad over something similar? He wasn’t happy with her “sexy” image and stopped talking to her for a bit though I think they are back on good terms now.

  15. laura-j says:

    Christ I’m 20 years older than her… I must be dead… am I dead?

    Just wanted to check.