The Black Eyed Peas are in the middle of a comeback attempt and, because of that, will.i.am has a platform to expound on the issue of sexism in the music industry and, in a more specific way, the #MeToo movement.
During a sit-down interview with Variety, which comes just days after attendance records were broken across the United States with various women's marches being held in multiple cities across the country, the BEP leader spoke in detail on where he thinks the industry is when it comes to the treatment of women. Spoiler: he thinks they could be doing a lot better.
Will didn't mince his words when broached on the subject by the interviewer, saying: “Music is probably… it does a really good job at diminishing the power of a woman, and that’s really sad. Especially hip-hop, rock — sex, drugs, and rock and roll. A woman is a resource in that sentence. It’s sad.” You can check out his answer in full below.
“It’s sad that, in this day and age of music, we don’t have a huge support for activism like we used to,” group member Taboo added. “In the ’60s, everybody was trying to make a statement with their music. It seems more athletes are standing up for causes than actually in the music industry.” With that said, will.i.am says he's unable, as a man, to full empower any woman he comes into contact with.
“A man doesn’t have the power to empower a woman,” he said. “All a man can do is acknowledge the power of a woman. I don’t have the power to give a woman, when a woman gave power to me. So our society is all effed up.”
Do you agree with the statement made by members of the Black Eyed Peas? Let us know in the comments.