LAST NIGHT WAS a momentous one for The 1975, with the band taking home not one but two Brit Awards; Best British Group and Album of the Year.
And while accepting the award for the former, frontman Matty Healy used his time on stage to make reference to a topic currently at the forefront of public consciousness – misogyny in the music industry.
After thanking the audience for their support, Matt asked for a moment to share sentiments expressed by Laura Snapes, a journalist with The Guardian.
“Just a couple of sentences. A friend of ours, Laura Snapes, said this, and I thought that we should all really, really think about it,” Matty began.
She said that in music, male misogynist acts are examined for nuance and defended as traits of difficult artists whilst women and those who call them out are treated as hysterics who don’t understand art.
The sentiment was met with with widespread applause as Matty and his bandmates made their way off the stage.
And while the response appeared wholly positive among those present, Twitter was a little more cynical.
Oh sure, Twitter threads weren’t without their praise. Case in point:
the 1975 won and used the opportunity to talk about misogyny in the music industry, we BEEN stanning
— 𝐭𝐚𝐧 (@doingitalltime) February 20, 2019
The 1975 using their acceptance speech to call out misogyny in the music industry was brilliant #BRITS2019
— allie ✨ (@BooRadAllie) February 20, 2019
ok but matty from the 1975 using their acceptance speech to talk about misogyny in the music industry !! i might have to stan 🥺🥺
— ًً (@swiftsjapan) February 20, 2019
you know what i’m so proud that the 1975 chose to speak out against misogyny during their speech
— sinead|#renewodaat (@tootimehemmings) February 20, 2019
But for every tweet praising Matty and the band, there was a post criticising the move, and accusing the band of virtue-signalling.
If the 1975 were making a statement about misogyny they would actually need to make a comment. A personal statement of their own. Reading a statement written by someone else and saying "think about it" is not them making a statement at all. #wet
— Brad77 (@brad41t) February 20, 2019
Jesus Christ take me back to the 90s
— BigPhillyStyle (@Housecat36) February 21, 2019
Fuck off with this virtue signaling! All I think of is its good for publicity! Enough with the politics at award shows 🙄😏
— Marvelanne🐶🐺🐱🐎🇨🇦 #Adoptdontshop (@marvelanne97) February 21, 2019
lmao they're only doing that shit because they said misogyny in rock doesn't exist anymore ~ a year ago. Damage control.
— bird (@bird_XCIII) February 20, 2019
Nauseating outpouring of virtue signalling from @the1975 at the self-congratulatory #BritAwards2019
— E14 Wolves (@E14Wolves) February 21, 2019
The 1975. Oh please do fuck off with your tedious virtue signalling. Twats.
— Lord Castle of Aston 🇬🇧🏴🦁 (@LeightonCastle) February 20, 2019
Take a look at this, and share your thoughts.
Sincere or virtue-signalling?
COMMENTS