Country-leaning pop megastar Taylor Swift recently announced her forthcoming 1989 album, and with it she revealed the video "Shake It Off." Like many recent pop videos, it borrows heavily from hip-hop culture. Thus, like those other videos, it's drawn criticism for cultural appropriation. One such critic is Odd Future rap dude Earl Sweatshirt.
On his Twitter, Sweatshirt admitted that he hasn't yet watched the video. He said he doesn't need to, however, as he knows it's "inherently offensive and ultimately harmful."
The rapper went on to accuse the video of "perpetuating black stereotypes."
As these debates tend to go, the Twitter feed is split down the middle between those who side with Earl Sweatshirt and those (militant fans) who side with Taylor Swift. If you'd like to make up your own mind, you can watch the video in question below.
On his Twitter, Sweatshirt admitted that he hasn't yet watched the video. He said he doesn't need to, however, as he knows it's "inherently offensive and ultimately harmful."
The rapper went on to accuse the video of "perpetuating black stereotypes."
haven't watched the taylor swift video and I don't need to watch it to tell you that it's inherently offensive and ultimately harmful
— EARL (@earlxsweat) August 19, 2014perpetuating black stereotypes to the same demographic of white girls who hide their prejudice by proclaiming their love of the culture
— EARL (@earlxsweat) August 19, 2014for instance, those of you who are afraid of black people but love that in 2014 it's ok for you to be trill or twerk or say nigga
— EARL (@earlxsweat) August 19, 2014As these debates tend to go, the Twitter feed is split down the middle between those who side with Earl Sweatshirt and those (militant fans) who side with Taylor Swift. If you'd like to make up your own mind, you can watch the video in question below.