Do you guys ever feel like Doja Cat hates her fans? It’s well known that she hates being called out on her inappropriate behavior – I’m still uncomfortable about everything that went down with Noah Schnapp – but mostly, Doja Cat just isn’t into fan-service whatsoever. I would even argue that she goes out of her way to treat her fans like sh-t. I understand not wanting to engage too much with people – you never know what kind of lunatic is lurking, especially in a pop star’s fandom – but Doja takes it to an entirely new level. She’s actively antagonizing the fans who adore her and provide her with free social-media buzz and buy tickets to her concerts. Well, over the weekend, Doja Cat basically told all of her fans to GTFO. It all started because she hates the group-name her fans gave themselves, the Kittenz.
Despite covering her tracks and digital claw marks, Doja Cat left traces of an online scuffle with her fans over the weekend. In a series of now-deleted messages on Threads, the “Kiss Me More” performer took jabs at her fan base, specifically several fan accounts that go by “Kittenz.” Think Beyoncé’s Beyhive, Taylor Swift’s Swifties, Nicki Minaj’s Barbz or BTS’ ARMY. The only difference is, Doja Cat rejects her fan base moniker altogether.
“My fans don’t name themselves s—,” she wrote on her Threads’ account in a rebuke of the Kittenz nickname, according to multiple outlets that took screenshots of the tweets. She then called for the end of her fan accounts. Since then, many of her most popular fan pages on Twitter have deactivated their accounts or have bid farewell.
Sometime in 2020, Doja Cat began to notice several names floating around online for her fan base: “cubs” and “kittenz.” To whittle it down to a single identity, she asked which name her fans preferred, reluctantly tweeting out a poll, and explained: “Because I don’t feel morally right pet-naming you guys.” The results, according to screenshots of the since-deleted tweet: 74% for “Kittens (Litter)” and 26% for “Cubs (Pride).” Since then, however, Doja Cat has sparingly used the name. The only known evidence of her using the term “Kittenz” was a promotional tweet for her 2019 single with Minaj, “Say So.” And over the weekend, seemingly unprovoked, Doja Cat disowned the name completely.
“My fans don’t name themselves s—,” she wrote on Threads. “If you call yourself a ‘kitten’ or f— ‘kittenz’ that means you need to get off your phone and get a job and help your parents with the house.”
“What should I change my name to since you don’t like the term kitten,” asked fan account @thekittenzweb.
“Just delete the entire account and rethink everything, it’s never too late,” Doja Cat responded. And other fan accounts seemed to take notice and follow those orders as major fan pages, including Doja HQ the Kittens Room and Doja Cat News, deactivated their Twitter accounts. Another popular account, Doja Cat Stats, which has more than 60,000 followers, is still active but posted a parting message: “well it was a great time i guess, time to say goodbye.”
Doja Cat went on to defend her decree by posting, “My life my rules my style my attitude.” She shot down one fan account’s request to say that she loved her fans, writing: “I don’t though cuz I don’t even know ya’ll.” She went on to claw back at another fan who reminded her that she’d “be nothing” without their support. And she called an account that uses her full name, Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, as her screen name, “creepy as f—.” The 27-year-old singer-rapper has since deactivated her Threads account.
Since I only lurk (briefly) in online fandoms, I wasn’t even aware that Doja Cat had this level of online support. Well, not anymore. I mean, imagine Beyonce telling her Beyhive to f–k off? Imagine Lady Gaga telling her Little Monsters to get a life? Imagine Taylor Swift telling her Snake Fam to grow up and spend their money on more worthwhile endeavors? Again, I understand why a pop star wants to keep some kind of distance from their fandom – you never see Beyonce engage with the Beyhive in any kind of way and that’s for good reason. But going out of your way to alienate your core fandom? It’s pretty rough.
Doja Cat’s top fan pages are deactivating their accounts after she criticized supporters for calling themselves 'Kittenz'. pic.twitter.com/Zy54M3y2ZS
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 23, 2023
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- CULVER CITY, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 12: American rapper Doja Cat (Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini) arrives at Michael Rubin’s Fanatics Super Bowl Party 2022 held at 3Labs on February 12, 2022 in Culver City, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 662027685, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Doja Cat, Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA – SEPTEMBER 10: American rapper Doja Cat (Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini) wearing an outfit by Viktor and Rolf arrives at The Daily Front Row’s 9th Annual Fashion Media Awards held at The Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center on September 10, 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.,Image: 721694920, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Doja Cat, Credit line: Christian Lora / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- Doja Cat attends 2023 TIME 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 26, 2023 in New York City,Image: 772224719, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Doja Cat, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon
Someone should tell her that she is nothing without her fans. They buy your music and merchandise and attend your concerts. So she should be real careful how she goes forward.
She wants money and fame but doesn’t want to appreciate the people that provide it for her? She’s mean. She’s full of herself. It’s too bad because she’s actually very talented but damn she should stay off social media.
I always thought that she was kind of “off”. I asked my daughter about it and she said a bunch of stuff that amounted to: you’re an “old” mommie. I see I was right…
She’s also the one who said she didn’t like any of the music she put out, right? Or that her fans were wrong for liking it? Something like that?
Anyway, I don’t see how this behavior is any healthier than whatever weird stuff obsessed fans do.
Yes she was. And this kittenz stuff was the nicer things she said about her fans. She went off on them saying she doesn’t love them, etc.
I heard some gossip on Reddit that she wants out of her contract and she’s doing this stuff to get her label to drop her.
Thanks for the info!
I saw an article about this yesterday and points were made. She clearly doesn’t like the parasocial relationship fans have with her, but also. It costs zero dollars to not *waves at everything*
Considering what I’ve read of her online behaviour (Noah aside), she’s at least consistent. She did call her fans suckers for supporting her last two albums, after all. And she’s done everything from be racist to date a predator, so frankly, it’s miracle anyone expected her to behave better.
There’s always been something off about her, but, dang it, she’s talented as hell and can write a catchy tune.
It feels like she’s self sabotaging herself. First it was shaving her head, and now this. I’m thinking deep down she wants off the hamster wheel of being a pop star. Which, I can respect, but take a sabbatical if that’s what she needs.
I know it can be hard to make that choice when you’ve got so many people around you pressuring you to keep the money train going.
Reminds me of BTS now that as a group they’re on hiatus and pursuing solo efforts. Of course part of that is because enlightenment was looming but they could have easily continued as a group while others were doing their mandatory military time. That’s what so many other groups have done. When they published that dinner where they made that announcement, you could see the enormous pressure they’d been under and they were crying, hoping the fans would understand. And of course we have!
Anyhoo, if Dona wants out or to take a break, I hope she gets it.
I think they were just so burnt out they needed a break, some of them more than others. V and RM completely seem over the touring part. RM is more passionate about art (his Instagram is wonderful) and V seems more into fashion and his personal life (with Blackpink Jennie).
I’m actually really curious about the pressure pop stars face (probably why the premise of The Idol intrigued me until Sam Levinson got involved). While it’s easier to give performers like Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and BTS grace when they’re vulnerable about the expectation they experience instead of lashing out (if this is indeed the case with Doja), I do know that there’s no such thing as a perfect victim. That talent, fame and fortune does come at a cost that someone like me (without any of those things) could never understand.
But man, her actions (which she’s consistently chosen) have been shitty as hell. If she doesn’t want to interact or engage with fans online, she could hire someone to do it for her.
I know it’s not a perfect solution. It reminds me of what Cardi mentioned in an interview — when she was poor she was free to have an opinion and say what she wanted, but she knows she has a platform now and an amplified voice, and she might not be great at using it sometimes, but she’s made an active choice to do better at it. If that’s what Doja is chaffing under, at the very least, she should get off social media. If not for her career than at the very least to spare herself from the public unravelling that seems to be occurring.
This is the woman who hangs out in incel chatrooms. Are you really surprised she’s an entitled asshole?
She is just awful all around and I wish they would stop trying to make her happen as a fashion it girl. If I was a designer I wouldn’t dress this garbage.
She resents the music she became a superstar off of. In her head she sold out. She’s genuinely super talented but her recent huge songs (except for kiss me which is a banger) are very cliche mainstream radio pop star hits. Still good music but not what “cool” people find interesting. She also has always genuinely had the personality of an underground weird trolling cool e-girl who’s one of the guys. Everything is ironic, nothing is supposed to be earnest. She is quite literally the girl showing feet in chat rooms.
She’s most attracted to “ironic” Nazis who live in their moms basement and probably wanted to be at jan 6 but couldn’t afford to go.
But her fans are the type of ppl who like top40 music. Ppl from marginalized femme coded groups that hate Nazi trolls. She had to hide the toxic and ugly but genuine parts of her personality to court the mainstream fame and money she wanted. And her trolly Nazi friends from those chat rooms are like ewwww your a sell out and a fake. So now she has to perform that she didn’t really sell out she was playing a scam on the mainstream. It was all for the money Trust her she’s still real. And look she’s gonna be an asshole but cuz her fans are sheep they will follow her any way. Isn’t that funny and the ultimate troll. Hahahah 🙄🙄
Many pop stars do a version of this. Miley did it, Christina Aguilera did it. Many boy banders also. Harry styles not doing this is what endeared him to many. Hating on her majority femme coded fans after a hugely popular album is actually the least interesting most cliche thing she’s ever done.
She is very talented. Great bars and innate understanding of melody. I love much of her music but I’ve also never forgotten who she is, a genuine irony poisoned troll. If she matures, she will accept the mainstream fans her music appeals to and won’t mistake trolling for being cool or interesting
So many good points, I really think she resents who she appeals to and what makes her famous, and it’s unfortunate. I can’t imagine the mental gymnastics she’s done to be where she is, and while I definitely don’t agree with any of what she stands for, she’s an interesting case study in how fame can lure and trap you in ways that are (more or less) self inflicted.
She’s pulling a Niki Minaj- dating an abuser & will slice anyone who mentions it.
Between this and the alleged snort of coke while on a livestream, she must going through it. Whatever “it” is.
A chat with Billy Corgan might be just the thing…
aside from b***h boss from the birds of prey soundtrack, i don’t really know much about her or her music other than what i read here. she does come off as toxic and unappreciative. but, i have to agree with her-i hate the naming of fandoms. speaking of toxic. they’re often weaponized by the artist to battle and dox others, they can be centers for hate, racisim, and more in the name of the artist. and too infrequently the artists themselves never call out their fandoms for their terrible behaviour. often, it’s subtly (or expressly) encouraged. i do think parasocial relationships can have a good and healthy place in fandom and society, but it’s too often used as a vehicle of hate. of course, i have no idea if any of this is why doja cat is calling out her fans, or if it’s just because she needs something to complain about (does seem to be more the latter). i also agree that the person using her full name as their twitter handle is creepy and gross.