GESAFFELSTEIN RELEASED A new collab with The Weeknd recently, called ‘Things We Lost In The Fire’. You can watch the video below if you feel so inclined.
Can’t see the video? Click here.
As most people know, when it comes to his lyricism, The Weeknd is all about riding. Listen, that’s his business. While this new song follow a similar suit, there’s one verse in particular that people are taking issue with.
In the second verse, The Weeknd sings: “You said you might be into girls/You said you’re going through a phase/You said you might be into girls/Keepin’ your heart safe”.
He goes on to talk about a potential threesome, which you can read below.
English songwriter Marika Hackman was the first person to bring it to people’s attentions.
Marika, an LGBTQ artist herself, was supported in her criticism by Irish singer-songwriters SOAK and Villagers’ Conor O’Brien.
SOAK / Twitter
SOAK / Twitter / Twitter
Villagers / Twitter
Villagers / Twitter / Twitter
Here’s the thing – it’s understandable why some people might consider this cherry picking or an over reaction, as many of The Weeknd’s straight-identifying fans have. However, beyond being incorrect, it is ignorant in 2019 to put forward the idea that sexuality is a choice.
Concerning the argument of fetishisation, imagining an encounter in which a woman is only interested in others in a sexual capacity to add shock value is, at best, lazy songwriting, and at worst, bi-erasure.
At a time when well written fully formed LGBTQ+ relationships do not get fair representation across pop culture, presenting this as original and contemporary is insulting to those who strive for it.
This isn’t going to seem like a big deal to someone who is straight because it doesn’t affect them. But what about everyone else? It’s a gross trope that we’re seeing less of, but as this shows, artists can still find ways to deride the LGBTQ+ community and pass it off as “entertainment”.
