Jada Pinkett Smith Defends Beyonce Amid Wardrobe Backlash
Jada Pinkett Smith, the 41-year-old actress, is defending Beyonce Knowles against those who are questioning why the 31-year-old singer promotes female empowerment but often performs while scantily clad.
Knowles recently headlined a charity concert in London to promote women's rights called Chime For Change. Knowles is one of the spokeswomen for Chime for Change, the initiative created by Gucci's global campaign to empower women.
However, many took to Twitter to question if the singer's outfit choice promoted female empowerment.
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"Hello @Beyonce - Dressing provocatively does NOT 'empower' women," one person tweeted. "It objectifies+teaches that physical appearance=self worth. So plz STOP!"
Others followed the same sentiments.
"How does J Lo and Beyonce gyrating in leotards empower women, yet a photo of a model in a bikini in a mag degrades them," another person questioned of Knowles and Jennifer Lopez, who also performed at the event.
However, Smith came to the defense of those criticizing Knowles' wardrobe choices in a Facebook posting recently.
"There was some backlash about the performance outfits for the Chime concert," Smith wrote on Facebook. "Since a woman's body has been deeply connected to sin, it's easy to forget all the power and beauty her body and sexuality possesses."
Smith went on to question why people were offended by Knowles' outfit and did not speak out about others who sold products with less clothes on.
"Yes, with this power comes great responsibility, but how was Beyonce's tasteful outfit irresponsible? Here is the problem I see, a woman's body is too much power for one woman to have, even Beyonce," Smith wrote. "Although we see corporations exploit this power through women and girls, with far less clothing on than Beyonce, to sell their products, do we protest?"
The proceeds for the Chime For Change benefit concert are being donated to a mentorship program for 50 Haitian girls who will receive secondary school education in Kenya, teenagers at a math and science camp in Texas and shelter for human trafficking survivors.
