India Arie had something to say about Yung Miami‘s hit song for the summer, ‘Spend Dat,’ and she sparked an internet debate in the process. ‘The Truth’ singer replied to comments on Threads about boycotting the track, and the internet was quick to share their opinions. Now, she’s circling back to clarify what she meant and where she stands. Meanwhile, Caresha seemingly hasn’t responded.
RELATED: India Arie Reveals She Is Boycotting Spotify Following Joe Rogan’s Remarks About COVID-19 & His Repeated Use Of The N-Word
India Arie Agrees With Fan About Yung Miami’s Song ‘Spend Dat’
Yung Miami dropped ‘Spend Dat’ back in April, and the song praises scamming folks and spending money (This for all my scammers︱and my get-money b*tches). The song reached No. 25 on the Billboard Top 100 and is being celebrated as a summer jam, but not by everyone.
One Instagram user commented that the song was degrading to the culture, and India Arie seemed to agree. @mrs.mj.tedla wrote, “I’m calling for a boycott of Yung Miami’s song Spend Dat.’ I believe it’s degrading to our culture. At some point, we have to take seriously the power music has over our perception and the values it reinforces. This can’t be the song of the Summer.”
The Grammy Award winner replied to the comment, advising folks to make “wise choices.”
“I spent my entire adult life, caring way too much,” she wrote. “Because I finally learned that not everybody Cares ( with a capital C) And explaining it to them is not gonna make them care. Everything you listen to see or eat is going to influence you. So make wise choices y’all. The mass acceptance of this song itself is a CRYSTAL CLEAR sign of the bigger problem.”
In another Threads post, India added:
“I finally realized that not everybody wants to get free, and it was a VERY rude awakening. I finally realized that not EVERYBODY wants to get free. And it was a very, very, very rude awakening. smh. because the mass acceptance of this song is a crystal clear sign of this much bigger truth.”
India Clarifies Her Stance On The Song Of The Summer
Following viral conversations about her stance, India Arie popped into her Instagram Stories to clarify that she was not advocating for a boycott.
“FOR CLARITY!! I did not say that I think anyone needs to boycott this song I said it is a sign of where we are as a culture that this song has been accepted so widely. And… THATS FACTS,” she wrote. “I THINK – people should do whatever they WANT TO DO. you do what you wanna do. I’ll do what I wanna do. And that’s that. MEANWHILE I also said, that the way we are embracing the songs says a lot about where we are as a culture, which … IS JUST FACTS.”
The recording artist also responded to a fan who called out the singer’s generation bringing Salt-N-Pepa and Lil’ Kim into it, and she delivered plenty of shade.
“You’re the one person I’m gonna answer today. I’ve been speaking out about this since my first television appearance in 2001 with Bill Maher (what year were you born by the way?) A DE ROOM I never said a raunchy song shouldn’t exist I think a lot of times they exist in the wrong context But I have said that many MANY MANY TIMES. MANY way. just so you know……”
India Arie’s Comments Sparked An Internet Debate
Reactions to the recording artist’s comments were mixed as several folks agreed with the ‘Get It Together’ singer while others thought a boycott goes too far.
Music Producer Hitmaka Also Criticized ‘Spend Dat’
Music producer Hitmaka appeared on ‘The Truth After Dark‘ podcast on June 29, and he said ‘Spend Dat’ represents “ho behavior.”
