But when the song dropped it was metby furor.
Both Ora and Cardi have since responded to the criticisms.
Cardi justified her role on the song andtweetedthat she has experience with a lot of women.
Credit: Jim Smeal/REX/Shutterstock
My sexual life is nobodys business, she says.
But were singing a song about kissing girls and that remains true to who I am.
Its the life that I live and its honest to me.
That would be pretty fd-up, she adds.
And Id agree with where the critics are coming from [in that case].
Everybody can have their own opinion.
Rexhas major bugbear in the debate is that there was a prejudice towards all four womens sexuality.
The question of whether [the song] was true to us was completely dismissed, says Rexha.
You dont know about my sexual orientation, so I felt disrespected.
Rexha continues by insisting that all her art is based on real scenarios.
Ive kissed girls, you know what I mean?
And I dont do it because its fun or whatever.
Do you have to be fully lesbian to put out a song about kissing girls?
What if youre bi?
With that said, Rexha admits that the grievances surrounding the red wine lyric are valid.
I get it, she says.
I dont drink red wine and say, I wanna kiss girls.
Thats just overthought, she says.
If I hear a song and feel connected to it, its exciting.
I follow what feels good in my heart.
People just like to make drama.
This interview is part of a forthcoming full-length feature with Bebe Rexha about her album Expectations.
