Bebe Rexha isn’t the only female artist fed up with ageism in the music industry.
The 29-year-old songstress received support from the likes of Taylor Swift and Rita Ora after venting about a male music executive who told her she was “getting too old” to post sexy photos on her social media pages.
Related: Taylor Announces ‘Lover’ Single Release Date At Teen Choice Awards!
In the caption of a black and white Instagram photo (below) of her posing in lingerie, the Meant to Be artist declared she would not be “put in a box” by these ageist execs, writing:
“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.”
Preach!
Bebe went on to blast the double standard of aging when it comes to male artists vs. female artists, continuing:
“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.”
Yas, gurl! Embrace that maturity!
The singer’s post was met with an outpouring of support from fans and fellow musicians — including Miz Ora, 28, who wrote:
“My sexy songwriting ? You are beautiful, getting sexier with age and your talent SINGS for itself. Keep making those rules ?””
Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui also sent Rexha some love, commenting:
“LET EM KNO MAMA??”
The post even received ALL-CAPS support from T.Swift, who is also 29 years old. The Lover artist wrote:
“DRAG THEM. 29 YEAR OLDS UNITE. ?????????????”
Sadly, plenty of female artists have dealt with similar experiences. Natasha Bedingfield, 37, shared how she’d also heard similar “bulls**t” from music execs, writing:
“I know this story and this kind of ‘advice’ is so bulls**t. I love you!”
The love didn’t stop there: The Chainsmokers, Ne-Yo, actress Laura Morano, and Jamie Lynn Spears all wrote supportive comments under Rexha’s post.
Video: Taylor’s Fans Are Mad At Perez… Again!
The star previously opened up about the struggles that came with being of a certain age (read: late 20s) in the music industry during a recent interview with ET, explaining how those experiences were the inspiration behind her new song, Not 20 Anymore.
She told the outlet at the opening night of the Jonas Brothers‘ Happiness World Tour in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday:
“[Women] feel the pressure to get to a certain place in our lives because our eggs are going to dry up and we have to have kids and get married and get to a certain age. Everybody laughs, but it’s true and especially me being in the music business — I’ve had executives tell me, ‘Oh you’re 25 — you’re getting old.’ And, now I’m 29 — I’m about to be 30. I feel good. Look at J Lo, look at Cher … they’re taking over the game… So, the song is about being 30 and being a better lover, getting finer like wine, and loving my thirties because I could do things that I could never do when I was younger… All my life when I was younger, everybody would be like, ‘Oh I want to be forever 21, here’s a song about being 20, I want to feel like I’m 17 again,’ and I’m like, ‘No. I want to write a song about being 30 and above.'”
We’re sure many people can relate!
After all, no one can escape growing old (except Jennifer Lopez, apparently) — so we applaud Bebe for standing up against this dumb patriarchal perspective.
Read her full post (below).
[Image via WENN]
Related Posts
