Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” continues to stir controversy.
Following their steamy performance at Sunday’s Grammys, the Federal Communication Commission received around 80 complaints from CBS viewers who deemed the performance offensive, obscene, and pornographic.
“The outfits they were wearing and the movements they did were absolutely disgusting,” a viewer from Idaho wrote in one complaint, obtained by WFAA. “This network should face very stiff penalties.”
Many criticized their wardrobes, with one viewer from Texas calling Megan “barely dressed in a thong and showed naked look alike legs.” Another viewer from Connecticut said the “Grammys need to require the artist not to be performing any types of sexual acts and require clothes to stay on and not stripping down to bra and panties.”
Others brought up cancel culture in their complaints. “Why was that performance okay but Pepe Le Pew is offensive?” said one New Jersey viewer, citing the cancelation of the Looney Tunes skunk over concerns about promoting rape culture. Another viewer wondered how Dr. Seuss’ books were being banned while Cardi is allowed to “sing about her [WAP] on national television.”
By comparison, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show drew 540,000 complaints and led the FCC to fine CBS $550,000.
“This display made the Janet Jackson Super Bowl Halftime faux pas seem like children’s television! The FCC has failed at their job!” said one Oakdale, Calif. viewer.
The “WAP” performance also sparked outrage from conservative commentator Candace Owens, who hashed it out with Cardi on social media. Owens called it “an attack on American values, American traditions” and accused Cardi and Meg of “actively trying to make children aspire to things that are grotesque.”
“Matter fact I’m just going to thank Candy,” Cardi B responded in a since-deleted tweet. “She put my performance on Fox News giving it more views that boosted the views on YouTube and is counting towards my streams and sales.”
Their Twitter feud continued, with Cardi posting alleged tweets claiming that Owens’ husband cheated on her with her brother. Owens maintained that the tweets were Photoshopped and threatened to sue Cardi for slander.
Cardi also reposted a video from one concerned mother who was brought to tears by the “WAP” performance. “Really ? Over Wap?” Cardi responded.
Chad is a professional journalist specializing in Hip-Hop culture and writing music reviews.
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