Charli XCX addresses ‘controversial’ meet and greets and whether fans are being ‘abusive’
Charli XCX. (Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Pandora)
Singer Charli XCX has spoken out about the “controversial” meet and greets that have sparked debate online, saying that her fans are in no way “abusive”.
The statement came after a series of meet and greets which saw Charli dot her name on douche and pose with the cremated ashes of a fan’s mother.
It prompted concern from some fans over the 27-year-old’s wellbeing.
“Have some respect,” she wrote in a tweet before dropping the statement, “that’s all.”
Charli XCX hits out at media outlets alike for ‘2019 fake wokeness’.
“OK, I’ve been telling myself not to say anything about this, but I just have to,” the singer wrote.
“These articles popping up about my meet and greets suggesting that fans are taking advantage/being abusive/using me for ‘online clout’ because of certain items that have been signed or brought along to meet and greets are just so ridiculous and pretentious.”
Charli continued by calling on journalists to not promote this “helpless damsel” narrative in their “think pieces”.
“It’s all wrapped up in this brand of ‘2019 fake wokeness’ that I cannot stand: it does more harm than good and just encourages people to attack and harass one another online.”
A NOTE ON “2019 FAKE WOKENESS” AND MEET AND GREETS. THANKS FOR READING. pic.twitter.com/Gou5F5jevo
— Charli (@charli_xcx) October 30, 2019
Charli XCX clarified that concern over her welfare was “very sweet” but “unwarranted”.
Moreover, the songwriter explained that the “more controversial” meet and greets “are not the ones I take away from spending time with my fans”.
“I take away the fact that people wait outside in the cold for me, tell me that a certain song changed their life or that a particular album got them through a tough time.”
She concluded that she in no way thinks fans “have been abusive towards me at meet and greets: please stop saying they have been”.
“I do these meet and greets because I genuinely want to hear from you,” she wrote. “I always hope and try my best to encourage freedom of expression and a safe space, both at my shows and at any community gathering for fans.
“I really hope to continue this.”
Twitter reacts with praise and support: #RespectCharliXCX.
Users overwhelmingly flooded Charli’s mentions with love heart emojis and supportive hashtags.
Many called on people to “#RespectCharliXCX” while praising how much she stands by her fanbase.
“Whenever I think you couldn’t be more kind and sweet you always prove us wrong,” one person wrote, “love you, queen.”
in short: it was never that deep
— Tom (@tombrxdley) October 30, 2019
Another added: “The way you care for your fans is so underrated.”
“Love you. Thank you for being real, honest and as transparent as possible,” a user expressed.
‘We just want you to be respected.’
Some remained unswayed, advocating for the need to examine the actions of some fans: “It’s cool you’re cool with it, but it doesn’t ignore the fact that part of your/our fanbase is becoming extremely toxic and entitled and gross.
“Whether you’re fine with it or not, it’s important to be having conversations re: gay men and their ‘ownership’ of female popstars.”
“I [love] you Charli but I think it’s rather off-base to attack the journalists for what they perceive as abusive behaviour form your fans,” tweeted writer Evan Katz.
“If you don’t feel that way, totally fair and glad you corrected the record, but to accuse journalists of clout chasing seems counter productive.”
reading this again i’m glad you don’t feel any ill intent towards those fans but at the same time you can’t blame those journalists for wanting you to be respected when you literally said earlier you “felt afraid” imo i still think what those fans did was wrong but that’s just me
— ༺ ???? ????? ༻ (@arabthot) October 30, 2019
While a fan explained: “Reading this again, I’m glad you don’t feel any ill intent towards those fans but at the same time, you can’t blame those journalists for wanting you to be respected when you literally said earlier you ‘felt afraid’.
I’m super happy that you want to meet us for free and care about spending time with us. I just want you to feel respected and while so far these incidents haven’t gotten dangerous, if these yt gay men keep going like this it could turn unsafe.
— ⒷⓄ ?for Sulli (@BojeungL) October 30, 2019
“[In my opinion] I still think what those fans did was wrong but that’s just me.”
And another added: “We definitely know you’re not a ‘helpless damsel’. And we do [commend] you on not being mad at the people doing inappropriate things, but we just want you to be respected.
“We love you so much. Thank you for having respect for us and listening to us.”
