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This weekend, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show finally aired. But the extravagant lingerie they’re selling, or even the gorgeous models, are far from what people are talking about. The label suffered criticisms after an interview which highlighted the brand’s lack of inclusivity, and seeing as it suffered its worst rating yet, it seems people are still not over it. Even one of the show’s performers this year, Halsey, commented on the controversy. She recently took to Instagram to say how she felt about it. She said that it was “supposed to be the best night of my year. However, after I filmed the performance, some comments were made regarding the show that I simply cannot ignore.” She further wrote, “As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have no tolerance for a lack of inclusivity. Especially not one motivated by stereotype.” She then proceeded to express her support for trans individuals: “If you are a trans person reading this, and these comments have made you feel alienated or invalidated please know that you have allies. We stand in solidarity, and complete and total acceptance is the only ‘fantasy’ that I support.”
Halsey also announced that she made a “sizable donation” to GLSEN—a US-based education group which aims to “create safe and affirming schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.”
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While others praised this move by the singer, some netizens couldn’t help but question it. Particularly, they were curious as to why she only chose to speak out now, after it was aired, instead of when the controversy first came out. Others asked whether her charitable donation equalled what she was paid for her performance.
As an artist, Halsey has always been known for being an advocate of gender issues. While it’s true that when she performed, there was no controversy yet, I agree the timing of her remark seems quite off. Unless of course, if she was legally bound to not say anything until after it was aired. Otherwise, it just seems like she’s using the advocacy as a brand. We have to wait until she releases any further statement to answer these. In the meantime, what do you guys think?
Photo courtesy of Halsey’s Instagram account
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