Rita Ora: I want girls to have the confidence to come out as gay
Rita Ora attends the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018 at the Theatre Royal on November 18, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Pop star Rita Ora has said she hopes her controversial track “Girls” helps girls to come out to their parents as gay.
Speaking to Stylist, Ora said she knew their would be a strong reaction to her single, in which she came out as bisexual.
“I wanted to give people that bit of hope to get through it. It was my story and my truth.”
—Rita Ora
A number of queer musicians, including Kehlani and Hayley Kiyoko, criticised Ora for her song, slamming it as “downright tone-deaf.”
Rita Ora performs during the 92nd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade day two of rehearsals on November 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty)
Rita Ora: “Girls” was “my story and my truth”
Ora told Stylist: “That was a really sensitive subject for me; it was my story and I knew it was going to be a bit of a shock for people because I’d never spoken about it in public before.
“I don’t think I would be doing this today if it wasn’t for the LGBTQ community and I would do anything for them as well as all my fans.
“This was a moment in time when I wanted to give confidence to girls who are trapped and feel like they can’t tell their parents that they are gay.
“I wanted to give people that bit of hope to get through it. It was my story and my truth.”
Ora said she “wasn’t scared” to come out as bisexual, but added: “I waited for a reason, because none of the times before felt right. I’m an adult.”
Model Cara Delevingne (L) and singer Rita Ora in Beverley Hills, California, in 2015. (Rachel Murray/Getty)
Rita Ora previously apologised over offence caused by “Girls”
The singer previously posted on Twitter responding to backlash over the track, which also features Charli XCX, Cardi B and Bebe Rexha.
“Girls was written to represent my truth and is an accurate account of a very real and honest experience in my life,” she wrote.
“I have had romantic relationships with women and men throughout my life and this is my personal journey,” she added, appearing to confirm that she is attracted to women, which the singer implied last week.
She added: “I am sorry [if] how I expressed myself in my song has hurt anyone. I would never intentionally cause harm to other LGBTQ+ people or anyone.”
Despite the criticism, several LGBT+ celebrities including Cara Delevingne and Olly Alexander sprang to Ora’s defence over the song.
Charli XCX, who features on “Girls,” also backed Ora and said the singer had “every right” to tell her story.
Cardi B, meanwhile, posted on Twitter that she has had “experiences” with “a lot of women.”
