Cardi B made a great point about people who accuse her of being a bad role model for young fans.
The role of the role model is up for debate. Are celebrities expected to be on their best behavior at all times because fans look up to them?
Or, is it unfair to expect celebrities to give up their authentic selves just because they’re in the limelight? When Cardi B Tweeted out, “I’m just nasty like that,” a fan responded, asking the rapper to act better.
The fan wrote, “I love you ALOT but I don’t agree with the messages you’ve been sending us young girls. So many of us look at you as a role model and that should send a very loud message.”
@iamcardib I love you ALOT but I don't agree with the messages you've been sending us young girls. So many of us lo… https://t.co/yxxFCwlfam— Kenidra4Humanity (@Kenidra4Humanity) 1554523304.0
Cardi B responded, saying she feels stifled by the role model label, "For these past two years I been watching what I say and I haven’t been myself. I been feeling [trapped] and sad cause it’s not ME but everybody tell me to be it for me to be this ‘role model’ and guess what? People still spit my past right in my face so for now imma be my old self again," the rapper wrote.
For these past two years I been watching what I say and I haven’t been myself.I been feeling trap and sad cause it’… https://t.co/1FuWfL5opy— iamcardib (@iamcardib) 1554553609.0
Twitter had Cardi B’s back, Tweeting support for the rapper to be her authentic self.
@iamcardib Never change who you are. People will hate and/or love you either way. We are at our best when we are US… https://t.co/q3ekUnjTWV— Anton (FOR THE BOYS) (@Anton (FOR THE BOYS)) 1554556057.0
@iamcardib @busblog Do you. You’re great, intelligent, and interesting and that’s plenty for anyone to look up to.— roxane gay (@roxane gay) 1554568158.0
@iamcardib Your parents are supposed to be your role models. Cardi is an entertainer! If you don't feel comfortable… https://t.co/4GJUG6jNwi— GreyFromTheTrey (@GreyFromTheTrey) 1554555321.0
Others brought up the point that a true role model is someone who is comfortable with who they are.
@iamcardib Do good, people say trash, do bad, people still say trash, the best way to survive the world is just do… https://t.co/FgTvs6tSsa— KudaMpofu95 (@KudaMpofu95) 1554553778.0
@iamcardib A true role model is authentically genuine to their own soul, real inspiration— Aqua Vitae (@Aqua Vitae) 1554555796.0
@KenidraRWoods_ @iamcardib The message that you should receive from Cardi, is to be who YOU are. Not attempt to mir… https://t.co/UHUELgk2UN— Shanticka Buchanan (@Shanticka Buchanan) 1554554949.0
The rapper has never claimed to be perfect, as she frequently points out. Cardi B has made past mistakes, such as drugging and stealing from men when she was a stripper, but she has owned up to those mistakes.
"I made the choices that I did at the time because I had very limited options," she said earlier this year. "I was blessed to have been able to rise from that but so many women have not."
All I can do now is be a better me for myself my family and my future. https://t.co/VlPJW20thN— iamcardib (@iamcardib) 1553631275.0
And at the end of the day, isn’t the ability to be yourself and to acknowledge your past something to look up to? We should all let Cardi B just be Cardi B.