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“There were people who criticized you for not including more black women on the cover of G I R L. How did you feel about that? Do you want me to be honest with you? Yeah. It’s insecurity. If you love who you are — and I’m not saying that there’s not a plight out there for people who have different skin colors, because Mexicans go through just as much discrimination, if not more discrimination, than Black people do in this country. Right? That’s why I wrote “Marilyn Monroe,” man that which makes you different is what makes you special. You don’t gotta be waif, White, and thin to be beautiful. You can be anything that you want to be, and what I chose to do is put my friends on the cover. The girl that was closest next to me is Black, but they didn’t know that, so they jumped the gun. And it wasn’t all Black women. There were a lot of Black women that were really angry at some of those girls, but some of those girls are the ones that instantly get mad when they don’t see somebody that’s dark. (GQ Interview Excerpt)”
Oh Girl boo. First, I rarely see Mexican kids get murdered for being Mexican in this country. So girl lets stop there. Second, how do you say you say you’re not offending anyone while offending them? Just stop. Congrats to Pharrell though, for showing us how narcissistic he can be. This was only a snippet of what Mr. Williams had to say in the latest issue of GQ. From his new album to his Oscar snub, he tells us how he really feels. Let me just say how Pharrell wasn’t snubbed at the Oscars. I might be in the minority but “Happy” is nothing more than a hipster version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” And his new album G I R L, should’ve been called ‘G I R L You Tried It.’ I mean besides “Lost Queen” and “Gush,” that album was pure hotdog water.
Now back to the issue I have with Pharrell’s comments. Saying Black women are insecure with themselves for wanting more of themselves in media is horse crap. Yes, Pharrell had a Black woman on his cover. And no he shouldn’t have to explain himself for portraying his art the way he feels. But what he shouldn’t do is make it seem that what is being said isn’t so far-fetch. Lets be honest here. There truly is a lack of portrayal of the different shades of Black women in the media. Usually when the media does fall head over heels for a Black woman, she’s the color of an iced caramel latte. Rarely do women that are darker than a paper bag (word to Yung Berg) get any Hollywood love. Yes, like a Sade album, every ten years a dark skin woman gets some love. Naomi Campbell. Alex Wek. Gabrielle Union. And lately Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong’o.
So I’m sorry Pharrell, just like your album, your comments are pure trash. As a Black woman, I wasn’t offended by the G I R L cover. However, I am offended that you would think I’m insecure for wanting to see darker skin on my TV screen. Sorry that your head is too far up your anus to see the real issue at hand. So just do us all a favor, and just only open your mouth to sing that terrible falsetto. Oh and continue to make the hipster version of children’s songs for the soccer moms. -Pooh Bailey
