Queen Naija Responds To Backlash: "I Don't Want Nor Need Y'all's Validation"

BY Erika Marie 13.4K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Randy Shropshire / Stringer / Getty Images
Queen Naija, Ari Lennox, Colorism
After announcing her forthcoming single with Ari Lennox, people brought up her old video where she spoke about "lil Black nappy-headed" girls.

Plenty of R&B fans are excited about the upcoming collaboration between Queen Naija and Ari Lennox, but a select few continue to bring up Queen's previous controversy. The singer and YouTube star hasn't been able to shake her years-old video where she complained about the "lil' Black nappy-headed" girls would bully her in school. "They be jealous of something," she said in the old clip. "It seemed like always ugly people bullied me... It ain't had nothin' to do with color, but they were always the ones that bullied me. It was always some lil' Black little girls bullying me with some terrible hairstyles."

It's the video that resurfaces every time Queen Naija has a new release on the horizon and her joint effort with Lennox has caused a stir. Because Ari Lennox is an artist who celebrates her skin tone, some of her fans took to social media to speak out against the collaboration. Queen Naija has been pelted with colorism accusations once again, prompting her to respond publicly.

"Lol the fact that people think they can get 'rid' of me or take me off my own song is ridiculous [crying laughing emoji]," Queen tweeted. "I don't want nor need y'all's validation to continue to win! whatever y'all say about or to me cannot stop my blessings. The ratio of people who love me outweighs the hate! [purple heart emoji]."

This isn't the first time that Queen Naija has addressed the old YouTube clip; the singer has repeatedly apologized for her remarks. Check out her tweet below.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.