Literally, I can’t deal with Redfoo’s latest song.
The song, released at the start of this month, has sparked considerable backlash due to its attitudes regarding women and the issue of consent.
In the light of the recent discussions in Australia about anti-violence, domestic abuse and women’s rights, this is probably exactly what the world doesn’t need: a ‘catchy’ song that aggressively demands women to “Shut the f**k up”.
The video depicts a group of conservative sorority sisters, who reject the advances of the drunken frat boys, played by Redfoo and co – Play-n-Skillz, rapper Lil John & Enertia McFly.
Much to the disgust of the boys, the sorority girls deny the charming proposals offered to them such as tequila and vodka shots, or engaging in ‘girl on girl’ action.
“A shot of vodka? I can’t. Tequila? I can’t. After party? I can’t. Girl-on-girl? I can’t. Literally, I can’t.”
The rejection is not met well by the boys, who aggressively jump in the girls faces and repeatedly shout at them, ‘Oh my god, Shut the f**k up!”
Truly.
Further lyrics include “Shhh… I said jump on the pole; I didn’t need your opinion.. I’m trying to see what you got, not trying to hear what you think.”
Or, “You got a big ol’ but, I can tell by the way you walkin’.” Sings Redfoo. “But you an annoying, because you talking.”
Charming.
Hardly the types of messages we want stuck in the minds of youths all over the world. The video is effectively teaching young men that it is ok to shout in a girl’s face if she says no to you, and shaming girls for speaking up and saying no.
And worse still, the song tacitly supports rape culture by showing that if a woman doesn’t consent to the activity proposed by the male, they can simply ignore her ‘no’ and tell her to ‘shut the f**k up’. This is not the sort of behaviour we should be normalising.
In response to the criticism, Redfoo said he didn’t have a problem with the song, saying it was just satirical, tweeting “I love and respect women and feel they are the most powerful people on the planet.”
It’s not the first time we have seen Redfoo being ‘satirical’ in the way he treats women. As the former other half of LMFAO, Redfoo can be seen gyrating in girl’s faces, proclaiming “I’m sexy and I know it”. Or how about his song titled ‘I’ll award you with my body’.
Reports are now speculating that it is unlikely that Redfoo will be returning as a judge on The X Factor Australia. We literally don’t need another sexist song that supports degradation of women, especially in 2014.
Watch it for yourself. Do you think this is the most sexist song?