Society is currently in a whirlwind of controversy and cancellations; a single slip-up can result in a ruined career. Interestingly, a significant portion of these ‘cancelled’ artists are women. This double standard has plagued the entertainment industry for decades. Successful women are deemed ‘undeserving’ if they express a controversial opinion, while men who have committed crimes or promoted hate speech are still considered hard workers who are inherently deserving of a spot on the charts. Listening to music isn’t just pressing play; it’s an untouched element of culture that needs to change.
A prime example of these double standards is Sabrina Carpenter, an artist who recently released an album titled ‘Man’s Best Friend.’ The cover shows her on her hands and knees while a man holds up her hair, seemingly imitating a dog. Dogs are known for being submissive and domesticated, which some say is ‘demeaning’ for women, and ‘setting feminism back’.
Zoe Owen, an AHS junior, saw no issue with the album cover until others voiced their concerns. The album cover wasn’t surprising to her because a large part of Carpenter’s persona is built around her sexuality and is satirical.
“There isn’t an exact definition for feminism,” Owen said. “Feminism is just a woman’s ability to be free and express herself.” To Owen, the album cover was synonymous with that ability.
On the other hand, Canadian artist Drake raps overtly misogynistic lyrics.
“I blow half a million on you hoes, I’m a feminist,” he raps with 21 Savage on the hit single, On BS. He still faces little consequence for this and other misogynistic statements. He has also signed Baka Not Nice to his label. Baka is a rapper who has pleaded guilty to assaulting women and has been accused of human trafficking. In spite of this support, friendship, and sexist lyrics, Drake continues to be ranked #11 on Spotify as of September 2025 and remains incredibly popular.
Some argue that women are seen as role models, which causes these higher standards. Yet society imposed this ‘role model’ position upon them. It isn’t a role they volunteered for. The idea that women are supposed to set good examples is rooted in the traditional gender role era, where women are the only ones responsible for bearing and raising children. In order to progress towards equality, we need to leave that idea in the past. A female artist should have no greater responsibility than a male one, yet they are silenced from expressing themselves freely, and cancelled for not being “PG enough.”
In 2003, The Chicks, a band formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, was canceled for calling out the George W Bush administration. During a London concert, their lead singer, Natalie Maines, shouted, “We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.” Shortly after, the group was labeled as a group of “traitors,” “twits,” and “bimbos.”
Music reporter Mellisa R Moss reflects back, stating that it was bound to happen, they were “too popular, too opinionated, too loud”.
Rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, recently produced a song titled “Heil Hitler,” paired with a swastika merch drop –abhorrent actions that still haven’t led to as much backlash as The Chick’s political statement garnered them.
“His [West’s] old music used to be art,” says a Jewish AHS freshman, Elijah Knight. “But now that he said everything, it took away from him being an artist.” When asked how listeners can hold artists accountable, Knight responded, “Accountability looks like fans not listening to the artist because then the artist will really understand what they did wrong.”
Knight has a point. Silence and standstill won’t make anyone stop the hate speech, and the same goes for female artists. If any celebrity creates hate towards a group of people, it is important to call these actions out. But when social media is rebelling against something minute, such as an album cover, take a step back and ask what everyone is really advocating against.
All of these artists did something “wrong,” but the severity of each is dramatically different. Following the herd of cancel culture ultimately leaves this pattern unfixed. It’s vital to ensure that the ideas we believe in are truly our own. If we are cancelling artists for expressing themselves or their opinions, then we should be canceling rapists or those preaching derogatory ideas.
Applying the same standards for male and female artists is a start, but for culture to progress, it’s also time to realize that artists and their art are inseparable. Music is intertwined with its creator from the moment the song is recorded to when you put it into a playlist. So play the artists you want to be connected to, and leave the rest off your queue.
Examples
Kanye
Sabrina
Doja cat
The chicks
Chris Brown
Zach bryan
Photo:NEED TO GET DONEEEEEEE
Thoughts brain dump:
Music is culture, reflecting value of culture, men can get away with more
Some people listen to classic rock, rap, or country, while others obsess over the latest pop hits.
Pop role model
Separating artist from the art
Men attacking feminism is ok, but when women may threaten it, the respinsibility of feminism lies entirely on their shoulders.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/24/arts/music/kanye-west-adidas-balenciaga-yeezy.html
https://19thnews.org/2023/03/the-chicks-silenced-politics-20-years-influence-country-music/ the chicks
https://www.music-tomorrow.com/blog/its-raining-men-statistics-about-the-gender-gap-in-music
https://medium.com/a-sign-on-the-door/women-versus-men-in-the-music-industry-4015e3f763bc
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/11/drake-megan-thee-stallion-her-loss-album/672023/
Interview questions
Where do you draw the line between artistic freedom and a celebrity’s responsibility to their audience, especially a younger fan base?
How aware are you of the recent conversation and backlash surrounding Sabrina Carpenter’s album cover and lyrics?
People viewed it as antifeminist
An attack on feminism
What was your initial reaction when you first saw the album cover for “Man’s Best Friend”? Did you see it as empowering, problematic, or something else entirely?
Didnt think it was bad before seeing others reactions
It’s her persona to be sexual and playful and didn’t view it as surprising or deep
The controversy has sparked a lot of discussion about feminism. Some people argue the album cover is a setback for feminism, while others say it’s an example of a woman’s right to express her sexuality. What’s your take on this?
It is an expression
Point of feminism is that they can be open and there isn’t one version of feminism-its a sort freedom
Do you think the reaction would differ if sabrina carpenter was a man? Would she be cancelled?
It would be different
People don’t see celebrities as people
There are other album covers that are more or equally explicit that aren’t censored
Here are some questions for listeners of Kanye West and Drake, designed to explore how they navigate the concept of separating the artist from the art. These questions can be used for an article on double standards in the music industry.
Questions for All Listeners (Kanye and Drake):
How do you define “separating the art from the artist”? Is it possible for you, and why or why not?
Do you think artists should be held accountable for their actions by their fans? What does that accountability look like to you?
Has your relationship with either artist’s music changed over time as more controversies have come to light?
As a jew what do you think of his antisemetic remarks and how does it affect how much you listen to him?
Do you feel that Drake’s long history of using personal drama and feuds to fuel his music makes it easier or harder to “separate the art from the artist”?
