Photo: WENN
Annie Lennox has criticised artists such as Beyonce for using "tokenistic" feminism in order to promote themselves.
In an interview with Pride Source, the Eurythmics singer was asked how she felt about about Beyonce's MTV Video Music Awards performance, during which she displayed the word 'FEMINIST' in big letter behind her.
"I would call that 'feminist lite'. L-I-T-E," she said. "It's tokenistic to me. I mean, I think she's a phenomenal artist - I just love her performances - but I'd like to sit down with her. I think I'd like to sit down with quite a few artists and talk to them. I'd like to listen to them; I'd like to hear what they truly think."
She continued, "I see a lot of it as them taking the word hostage and using it to promote themselves, but I don't think they necessarily represent wholeheartedly the depths of feminism - no, I don't. I think for many it's very convenient and it looks great and it looks radical, but I have some issues with it.
"I have issues with it. Of course I do. I think it's a cheap shot. I think what they do with it is cheap and ... yeah. What can I tell you? Sex always sells. And there's nothing wrong with sex selling, but it depends on your audience. If they're 7-year-old kids, I have issues with it."
Despite originally rejecting the word 'feminism' as "very extreme", Beyonce sampled Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's brilliant TED talk on feminism in 'Flawless', one of the tracks on her latest self-titled album.
Annie Lennox's new album, Nostalgia, which sees her tackle the jazz genre, is set for release on 27 October.
