Pharrell Williams

[CailinDana]

What's his deal? He sang that utter excrement "Blurred Lines" and yet was on BBC Breakfast this morning sounding like he'd swallowed "Our Blood."
He spoke about how women are not treated fairly, how men can read up on it but never understand it, how he would support Hilary Clinton as President etc.
When the presenter (rightly) asked him about his tendency to write misogynistic turd spew he spouted some tripe about it being about "good girls" having "bad thoughts" and the "blurred lines" that exist around that. I think the man deserves the highest level of bullshit award for that one.
I found myself agreeing with his sentiments around women but how can any feminist take him seriously when his public face openly sneers at women?

[TaraKnowles]

I agree, I wish he had said 'normal' women having 'normal' thoughts. The interviewer could have questioned him further on why he thought that more female leaders would make such a difference and how.

I think he had been through a pr machine to minimise blurred lines. I didn't really buy it.

[CailinDana]

What I'm wondering is if he made Blurred Lines without really thinking, or just thinking of the money and now he feels bad/it's damaged his reputation and he's trying to backtrack, or if he genuinely holds what appears to me to be two opposing views - that women matter but that treating them like sex toys and talking about shit like "good girls" and "bad thoughts" is ok.

[CailinDana]

On the one hand I'm pleased to see a young man with a "cool" image and strong public voice speaking sensibly about feminism in a way that might actually reach people, but I think unless he openly disowns Blurred Lines it all rings a bit false - is that too harsh?

[fuckinglondonballs]

He sounds like a fairly normal person - has contradictory views, developing his thoughts as he goes, not articulating himself that well, being a bit of a hypocrite.

Maybe the Blurred Lines backlash gave him something to think about.

I do like to give people the benefit of the doubt though and would rather encourage them to keep thinking and developing their views than should 'Shitty mysoginistic twat!' at every opportunity.

Reminds me of this article. Ignore it's about Beyonce and just replace her name with 'a lot of people' m.essence.com/2013/12/17/beyonces-unconventional-and-flawed-feminism/

[IdrisElbaIsMyHusband]

He's 41 so hardly young

[fuckinglondonballs]

Big x post

[Scarletohello]

I think any man who thinks it's ok to be in a video with naked women doesn't understand the first thing about feminism. ( check out the uncensored video on YouTube if you don't know what I mean ). It was a v catchy song, though totally ripped off from Marvyn Gaye and I like it as a dance song. But the lyrics, surely they knew what they meant when they were writing and singing them...??

[StealthPolarBear]

Was blurred lines not robin thicke? Or am I missing something?

[CailinDana]

Well this is the problem Scarlet. What he said this morning really struck me as it's so rare to hear a man even mention women and talk about women's rights etc as a real issue, which is quite sad in a way really. Does the fact he made that ridiculous song negate his message?

[RamsaySnowsSausage]

I heard an interview with him recently saying he'd called his album 'Girl' in tribute to all the wonderful women in his life. He sounded earnest but quite confused. (Also why call it 'girl' if it's about women..although he did write 'boys' or Britney, so can let that one go ). He did sound genuine but incredibly patronising...'girls can contribute so much...' (gee, thanks), 'girls have always supported me..' etc.

I didn't see the interview this morning but that he recognises that 'men can read up on it but never understand' is fantastic. He is incredibly popular right now so it's positive he's speaking out like this but some of his work is at odds with these revelations.

[noddyholder]

Talks shit but means well. I am completely blinded by his ahem appeal though so what do I know?

[CailinDana]

It was both of them Stealth.

[SirChenjin]

He's trying to dig himself out of a big hole...this is now the new right-on Pharrell who just luffs the wimmin dontcha know, and all is now forgiven apparently.

I hope he issues a heartfelt apology for Blurred Lines and confirms that he was forced to write it at gunpoint - because there can be no other explanation for that piece of misogynistic guff.

[MewlingQuim]

He gives me the creeps.

I suspect he's saying what he thinks women want to hear.

[SirChenjin]

I'd still do him though.

[noddyholder]

Of course he is it sounds like pr and it is. He can hardly say anything else

[LizzieVereker]

I think his stated rationale behind the "Blurred Lines" debacle is that there should not be a concept of good/bad girls or good/bad thoughts about sex, women should be able to express their sexuality freely...although this doesn't really explain some of the more dubious lyrics in the song.

But as fuckinglondonballs said above, if the backlash has made him think, that's all to the good, surely? He does seem to be a fairly lucid chap, now that he's reflected on it all.

[noddyholder]

Sirchenin naughty (me too)

[LizzieVereker]

But I should add that I'm not keen on his hat.

[RamsaySnowsSausage]

Yeah me three noddy We could have been in the Blurred Lines vid

[noddyholder]

Blurred vision maybe at my age

[CailinDana]

The hat was awful. He is rather nice though.

I would have so much more respect for him if he said "You know what, it was a catchy song that made me a lot of money but I get where people are coming from when they say it's misogynistic and I didn't intend that." I think that would be enough to indicate he isn't an armchair feminist, willing to spout feminist views when it suits him but make money from misogyny at the same time.

His "explanation" of the song was just totally meaningless and quite insulting really.

So does that negate the fact that what he said in the interview was actually well thought out and relevant?

[SirChenjin]

Well said Cailin

[UriGeller]

I reckon him to be the sort that says, women showing their titties is empowering! Women can show their tits, its their choice! Feminism yeah!

But he's very pretty so I shall forgive him.

[ReallyFuckingFedUp]

On the one hand I'm pleased to see a young man with a "cool" image and strong public voice speaking sensibly about feminism in a way that might actually reach people, but I think unless he openly disowns Blurred Lines it all rings a bit false - is that too harsh?

Seriously, he is in his 40s. He does look young though. I wonder how easy it is to get swept up in to things and then after you do them realise you've made a misogynistic pile of shit and a rapey horrible song and video.