Chlöe Bailey Says Criticism Of Being Too Sexual Was "Killing" Her

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2022 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 28: Chlöe Bailey attends the 2022 MTV VMAs at Prudential Center on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Chlöe Bailey reflects on the criticism she's faced for showcasing her sexy side in her music and during performances.

It’s hard for child stars to break out of the image that they first introduced to the world. Bow Wow and Justin Bieber certainly faced their setbacks as they grew up in front of the public. However, it's a regular occurrence for any child star to sheds their youthful image. Chlöe Bailey, for example, came up as one-half of the sister duo, Chlöe x Halle during their teen years. They grew up from girls to women in front of the world but in their journey to find themselves, they’ve faced immense public scrutiny.

Chlöe, who’s fresh off of the release of her debut solo album, In Pieces, blossomed with confidence into her 20s. However, she’s had to face the wrath of ruthless online trolls day after day, especially as she found herself. During a recent interview with PEOPLE, she explained how that became the premise of her new album. “We both didn't really know who we were individually without the other, and that's what was really scary for me," the 24-year-old star explained. "It was a moment of self-doubt where I was like, 'Can I do this without my sister?'"

Chlöe Talks About The Criticism Of Being “Too Sexy”

AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 17: Chlöe performs onstage at "Rolling Stone Future of Music" during the 2023 SXSW Conference and Festivals at ACL Live on March 17, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Amy E. Price/Getty Images for SXSW)

If you recall, the moment she strutted onto the VMA stage to perform the Murda Beatz-produced, “Have Mercy,” she faced an influx of criticism for her sexy choreography and attire. Though it caught Gunna’s attention, she explained the commentary began to get to her. “I never understood it. I'd look at my peers and be like, 'We're all the same age. They're showing as much as me, if not more. But if I do it, I'm ridiculed to the max,'” she said. Her statement reflects the backlash she faced from her recent love scene in Swarm that led to plenty of criticism in the week that followed.

“As much as I would see it and try to act like it didn't affect or bother me, it would,” she continued. “I was starting to believe the lies that the trolls were saying online, and I started to look down on myself even more than what I already was doing with my own insecurities. Once I ignored it, I've been good." Check out Chlöe Bailey’s new project here and sound off with your thoughts on the recent statements in the comment section below. 

About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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