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Cara Delevingne defends Rita Ora over 'Girls' song: 'I don’t think it’s right to say her experience and her words are wrong'

Actress and model defended her friend following backlash over track that explored bisexual relationships

Roisin O'Connor
Music Correspondent
Tuesday 22 May 2018 11:56 BST
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Cara Delevingne with Rita Ora at a Netflix afterparty for the 2015 Golden Globe awards.
Cara Delevingne with Rita Ora at a Netflix afterparty for the 2015 Golden Globe awards. (Getty)

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Actress and model Cara Delevingne has defended Rita Ora after the pop singer received a backlash for her recent single "Girls".

Ora teamed up with Bebe Rexha, Cardi B and Charli XCX for the song, which she said was written about her own “honest experiences”, having had “relationships with women and men throughout her life”.

However, some critics said the song was "damaging" and perpetuated stereotypes of bisexuality that catered to a straight male gaze.

In an interview with Paper magazine, Cara said she did not feel the apology was necessary.

“She didn’t need to apologise," she said. "She did nothing wrong. She should be able to come forth and say: ‘This is the way I did this and I’m going to keep on singing this song because it’s a great song.’

"It came from the right intention and that’s what’s most important."

She continued: “I love Rita. I think she’s a wonderful artist and I always support her in what she does.

“I don’t think it’s right to say her experience and her words are wrong. If she hadn’t ever felt that way and it wasn’t true then that would be weird. She’s being proud of something and saying it… she’s being honest about something she may not have been comfortable before. I don’t think it’s wrong.

“And people disagreeing with it and being vocal... no one’s ever going to fully back one thing that happens. There’s always going to be a conversation. It’s why you make music, or movies, so people can talk about it. That’s the point.”

Rapper Cardi B also previously defended the song, tweeting: “We never try to cause harm or had bad intentions with the song [sic]. I personally myself had experiences with other woman, shiieeett with a lot of [women]!

“I [thought] the song was a good song and i remember my experience.”

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