FEATURE:
Don’t Try Me
Why Body-Shaming and Misogynistic Comments Made About Jorja Smith Is the Final Straw
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IT is appalling…
PHOTO CREDIT: Ivor Alice for METAL
that women in the music industry have to deal with truly disgusting and offensive comments. From remarks about their looks to their ability, there is so much sexism and misogyny online! It is bad enough that there is huge inequality and sexism in the industry. Throw in posts and comments that they read on their social media accounts, and it is clear that something needs to change! One of our very best artists, Jorja Smith, has unfortunately been subjected to body shaming and misogynistic comments for a while. Whether someone is being disrespectful or nasty about how she looks or makes a remark about her body size, she has had to read such disgusting things. She has risen above it and not let it stop her posting, but why should women in music still have to face this sort of thing?! CLASH’s Robin Murray highlighting how body-shaming comments about Smith brings to the surface the very worst of the Internet:
“Let’s get it straight: Jorja Smith is a modern British icon. No ifs, no buts, no maybes. She’s been able to navigate the industry, speaking her truth and garnering accolades. Blending neo-soul and R&B, debut album ‘Lost & Found’ was a twilight delight, its hushed atmosphere surrendering to a unique form of intimacy. For our money, Jorja is often at her best on club sounds – think the Preditah-produced UKG bouncer ‘On My Mind’, her Ezra Collective collaborations, or her new single ‘Little Things’. An ode to UK club culture, she hand-picked newgen junglist Nia Archives to remix it, and she responded with a system slayer, an all-out festival anthem. Musically, it’s one of Jorja’s best moments – and she’s clearly revelling in that energy.
Except that’s not what people are discussing online. Jorja Smith seems – for whatever reason – to attract the worst portions of the internet, the darkest commentators. This time round, they’ve chosen to fixate on her appearance, with a slew of body-shaming statements sweeping across Twitter and Instagram.
We’re not going to amplify these statements, suffice to say if you click on any post Jorja makes right now – or any platform supporting her work – then you’ll be able to discover it for yourself. Sickening, sexualised comments; discussion about her before and after appearances; the continual, continual fixation on her appearance, completely disregarding her voice, her songwriting, her production insight, and her genius.
As ever, Jorja Smith hasn’t deigned to respond. Why should she? She has her own life, and long since abandoned Twitter as a platform. It’s nonsense to think that Jorja isn’t aware of it, though – how could she not be? Her name regularly trends on a platform she’s not even a part of, most often for cripplingly cruel reasons.
Remix co-conspirator Nia Archives maintains a presence on Twitter, and she couldn’t resist commenting. Her blunt statement “stop body shaming the gyaldem” speaks volumes, precisely because this is the last possible thing she should have to say. It’s basic, it’s fundamental, and it’s a million miles away from the music.
People online don’t ask Stormzy why he’s not maintaining his gym routine. They don’t wonder about Dave developing a belly on tour, or Central Cee losing weight. This constant, never-ending fixation on appearance rests solely on the shoulders of young women, most of whom have no way of dealing with it. Many of them probably have body issues of their own.
An article from Black British Bloggers offered insight into the experiences of young Black women who experience eating disorders. Much of the literature surrounding this issue remains weighted in the experiences of white women – in imagery, and in words, Black women struggle to see themselves. An article from Refinery29 puts it more bluntly: Black Women Are Failed When It Comes To Eating Disorders. Instead, what they’re able to read is non-stop commentary online about the way their peers and heroines look.
Jorja Smith owes these people nothing. All she owes herself is happiness, love, and her best possible life. The comments surrounding her are shameful, and show the internet at its darkest”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Lizzo/PHOTO CREDIT: Steve Jennings/WireImage/Getty Images
The fact that so many people choose to focus on her body is horrifying. Other Black women in music such as Lizzo have also had to hear and read so much disparaging and offensive comments about their bodies. It is sexist, misogynistic, body-shaming and hugely disrespectful to women who are making some of the best music in the world! No woman in music should have to face anything like this. Unfortunately, there is still a torrent of sexist, offensive and misogynistic abuse aimed at women. Whether it is threats, overly-sexual comments, body-shaming or disrespectful comments about their musical abilities (compared to men), it is highlighted by some. But that is where the anger ends. Why are social media companies not doing more to ensure that this sort of hateful and unacceptable abuse and sexism is making its way onto social media?! I follow a lot of artists on Twitter and Instagram, and I unfortunately have to see what they deal with. Even one nasty or abusive comment is incredibly damaging to their mental health and self-esteem! n fact, the artist Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor) is someone that got a lot of body-shaming comments - and she has stepped back from Twitter quite a bit. There is body-shaming against other-gendered artists, but this seems like a toxic practice that largely applies to women. Musical brilliance is put aside in favour of zeroing in or their bodies and appearance! The last thing we want is for Smith to leave social media or even take a break from music because of the impact this would have on her mental health.
I do feel that not enough is being done to both protect women who are body-shamed (and any other form of hate and discrimination) and ban/punish those responsible for posting such vile comments. It is angering that I have to return to the theme of body-shaming in music so soon after I posted a feature reacting to Lizzo’s experiences with it! Let’s hope, going forward, that there is greater action when it comes to filtering body-shaming comments. When it comes to Jorja Smith, she is one of our most astonishing artists. Her upcoming album, Falling or Flying, is out on 29th September. Go and pre-order your copy:
“Double Brits Awards Winner and Grammy / Mercury Prize nominee Jorja Smith returns with her second album. On the album Smith embarks on an adventure of sounds and thrills. It's smooth, it's pop and soulful and sure to be one of the albums of this year.
Sonically, this album, a no-skips body of work, isn’t like anything you’ve heard before. It sits masterfully in this same space of excitement, self-exploration and self-assertion that Jorja does. Compromised of deep, thumping drums, racing basslines, irresistible hooks and distinctive beats, ‘falling or flying’ runs at the same pace that Jorja’s mind does. ‘I don't slow down enough’ she says. ‘This album is like my brain. There’s always so much going on but each song is definitely a standstill moment.’
Of the many British voices in music today, Jorja is among the most commanding, writing at a pitch of intensity and urgency that few can match”.
An album I can see being in contention for next year’s Mercury Prize, the wonderful Jorja Smith is forging ahead and gifting us with such sensational music. We need to do all that we can to ensure that inspiring and iconic women like her are allowed to focus on music and not have to consider reacting to hateful and misogynistic comments about their body, appearance or anything else. These incredible and vital artists deserve…
NOTHING but respect!