![Doja Cat poses on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, New Jersey, US, on September 12. Photo: EPA-EFE](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/10/16/b5c7a18c-0b39-4e62-80e0-94a52a861d2c_fc705dc8.jpg)
The Grammy-winning rapper, known for her online antics, takes on the role of a so-called “b*** poster,” often sharing provocative and nonsensical messages on social media. And while this behavior has helped the 27-year-old gain an audience and amplify her music over the years, it has also sparked significant backlash, including her reportedly losing half a million Instagram followers in a month after she came out publicly. made fun of her fans. .
Premiere of the star-studded film Eras Tour with Taylor Swift in Los Angeles
Premiere of the star-studded film Eras Tour with Taylor Swift in Los Angeles
This influence was felt when Scarlether latest album, debuted at a lower-than-expected No. 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the US, despite its lead single “Paint the Town Red” topping the Billboard Hot 100.
![Doja Cat is known for her bold and quirky ensembles. Photo: @dojacat/Instagram](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/10/16/261b5c66-da8d-47eb-8d76-798998351002_7390c88c.jpg)
Doja Cat’s career is littered with controversy, from racial and homophobic slurs to trolling fans, creating a complicated success story, and scandals. So how will an artist’s reputation affect her future in the music industry?
Let’s take a closer look at seven of Dodge Cat’s most problematic moments ever.
1. Downplaying Covid-19 by calling it “the flu”
![Doja Cat at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, on February 5. Photo: Reuters](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/10/16/3b8e558b-302c-4be2-99de-5789757c9d47_0c42f09f.jpg)
In March 2020—the month the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic—Doja Cat sparked outrage during an Instagram Live session where she mocked those fighting the coronavirus. The rapper disparagingly compared the deadly virus, which has claimed nearly 7 million lives to date, to the flu, declaring: “I’m going to get corona and then I’m going to get corona because I don’t give a damn.” ** about the crown. Bitch, it’s the flu. I’m not afraid. You’re all awesome, period.
She contracted the virus in July 2020 and again in December 2021.
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The “unearthly” wedding of Billy Ray Cyrus and Fairrosa – but did Miley Cyrus go?
2. Alt-right chats and racist slurs
![Doja Cat’s fourth studio album, Scarlet, was released in September. Photo: @dojacat/Instagram](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/10/16/b8d9b570-24ac-40d9-9ec7-2266ce60926c_d7491f3d.jpg)
In May 2020, Doja Cat found herself at the center of another scandal, this time for using an offensive term in a 2015 song. The uproar began when an old track called “Dindu Nuffin” resurfaced, using the term to ridicule black victims. police brutality – following the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement in May and June 2020.
Doja Cat publicly apologized for using the term, explaining that she learned it from spending too much time in alt-right chat rooms as a teenager. But that wasn’t enough to stop the hashtag #DojaCatIsOverParty from trending online.
3. Her feud with Stranger Things’ Noah Schnapp
![Noah Schnapp stars as Will Byers in the Netflix sci-fi horror series Stranger Things. Photo: @noahschnapp/Instagram](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/10/16/53f1afd1-ab37-46ad-8eaf-4d692b305660_a26c17fe.jpg)
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10 Beckham revelations on Netflix: from first kiss to “depression”
Doja Cat, who had publicly expressed her admiration for Quinn, launched a verbal attack on Schnapp, who was just 17 years old at the time, calling him a “snake” and a “weasel.” The aggressive interaction drew public attention, raising questions about Doja Cat’s decision to ask the teen to be her wingman. Doja Cat responded to the outrage by tweeting, “Y’all are so pathetic and lame and no one wants to hang you up so y’all are here unironically responding to the shit that pisses you off.”
4. Meeting disgraced Twitch streamer Jay Cyrus
![In July, comedian and Twitch streamer J Cyrus dealt with resurfaced allegations that he emotionally abused followers and moderators on the live-streaming platform. Photo: Getty Images](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/10/16/64cb6238-6b02-4141-8678-7dfbcea9d857_d601f28a.jpg)
In 2019 and 2020, several users of the live streaming gaming platform accused Cyrus of emotional abuse and manipulation. Since the accusers were mostly female subscribers and moderators who were significantly younger than the streamer, Cyrus issued a lengthy apology, seemingly acknowledging his inappropriate and predatory behavior.
5. Attacking fans before the release of his fourth album
![Doja Cat wears a Cash Cow cropped T-shirt, as seen in the video for her song “Demons”, from her new album. Photo: @dojacat/Instagram](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/10/16/8613329e-e3dc-447b-bc20-3c2e8ec192ef_7390c88c.jpg)
Tensions came to a head in July when Doja Cat, visibly upset, lashed out at fans in the comments section, calling them overly involved in her personal affairs. “If you call yourself a ‘kitten’ or a damn ‘kitten’ (a term for Doja Cat fans), that means you need to get off your phone, get a job and help your parents around the house,” she argued.
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Romance between Julia Fox and Kanye West: 9 main revelations from her new memoirs
This rift deepened when a fan expressed her desire to hear “I love you” to her fans. Doja Cat retorted, “I don’t know because I don’t even know y’all.” She went on to call another fan a “crazy person” after they highlighted the unwavering support she received “no matter what” from her followers.
![Doja Cat’s fashion sense frequently crosses into the realm of the bizarre. Photo: @dojacat/Instagram](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/10/16/da61325c-eca3-46a9-ab59-4672c8f0ea78_16269245.jpg)
The horrific incident resulted in the artist reportedly losing as many as 500,000 followers on Instagram, although she still boasts a whopping 24.4 million followers.
6. Another offensive song title
![In April, shoe brand Skechers named Doja Cat its first artist-in-residence. Photo: @dojacat/Instagram](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/10/16/3456d22c-a6f3-47c0-a8c8-9cf2ad191a91_d7491f3d.jpg)
After the release of her new album in September, many Filipinos noted that she named one of her tracks “Balut,” a popular street food in the Philippines. “I named the song ‘Balut’ because it means a bird that is eaten alive,” she explained in an Instagram Story.
This explanation offended many Filipinos who noted that balut This is not a live bird, but an embryo that is cooked before being eaten.
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6 Best Dressed Women on the 2023 MTV VMAs Pink Carpet: From Tay Tay to Shakira
7. Alt-Right Fashion Moment
Doja Cat’s latest controversy erupted on Oct. 6 when she wore a T-shirt featuring controversial internet comedian Sam Hyde clutching a rifle in a photo posted to Instagram.
Fans were quick to voice their concerns, criticizing her apparent support for a figure notorious for his racist and sexist views. In response, Doja Cat simply reposted the photo, this time cutting out the controversial image, and paired it with a caption that included some awesome emojis.