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Lily Allen has hit back at critics of her new single 'Hard Out Here', after being accused of portraying racial stereotypes in the video for the track.
Despite a huge amount of positive support for her new release, Allen has been hit with criticism for using a troupe of black dancers during several sections, including one where she attempts to twerk - but fails. Now, in true Lily Allen style, the singer has hit back at critics, posting a lengthy message on Twitter about the intentions behind the video.
A lengthy post on Tumblr blog 'BlackinAsia' has been widely spread online, which harshly criticises Allen's video. Read it here.
The song and video takes a swipe at the way females are portrayed in music videos and the media, and Allen adds that if she had been able to twerk like the dancers can, she would have gladly done so for the cameras.
She wrote:
"1. If anyone thinks for a second that I requested specific ethnicities for the video, they're wrong.
2. If anyone thinks that after asking the girls to audition, I was going to send any of them away because of the colour of their skin, they're wrong.
3. The message is clear. Whilst I don’t want to offend anyone. I do strive to provoke thought and conversation. The video is meant to be a lighthearted satirical video that deals with objectification of women within modern pop culture. It has nothing to do with race, at all.
4. If I could dance like the ladies can, it would have been my arse on your screens; I actually rehearsed for two weeks trying to perfect my twerk, but failed miserably. If I was a little braver, I would have been wearing a bikini too, but I do not and I have chronic cellulite, which nobody wants to see. What I’m trying to say is that me being covered up has nothing to do with me wanting to disassociate myself from the girls, it has more to do with my own insecurities and I just wanted to feel as comfortable as possible on the shoot day.
5. I'm not going to apologise because I think that would imply that I’m guilty of something, but I promise you this, in no way do I feel superior to anyone, except paedophiles, rapists murderers etc., and I would not only be surprised but deeply saddened if I thought anyone came away from that video feeling taken advantage of,or compromised in any way."
She ended the post by sharing the Twitter handles of six dancers involved, saying: "Ask the ladies yourselves."
Watch Lily Allen's 'Hard Out Here' video below
