Normani is finally ready to open up about the racist memes and slurs that her former Fifth Harmony groupmate Camila Cabello posted about her during their days performing to her. Despite speaking up now, the singer admits that she has “struggled” with addressing the situation.
“I didn’t want it to be a part of my narrative, but I am a black woman who is a part of an entire generation that has a similar story. I face senseless attacks daily, as does the rest of my community,” she said.
In the Rolling Stone issue, where she graced the cover alongside SZA and Megan Thee Stallion, she went on to say that “it would be dishonest if I said that this particular scenario didn’t hurt me. It was devastating that this came from a place that was supposed to be a safe haven and a sisterhood because I knew that if the tables were turned, I would defend each of them in a single heartbeat. It took days for her to acknowledge what I was dealing with online and then years for her to take responsibility for the offensive tweets that recently resurfaced. Whether or not it was her intention, this made me feel like I was second to the relationship that she had with her fans.”
Cabello, who has been tapped to portray Cinderella in the upcoming live-action remake, decided to apologize in December, likely to save face following the racist rant resurfacing on social media. The singer said that she was “uneducated and ignorant” at the time of the offensive content aimed at Normani.
Normani further revealed her feelings on the matter, hoping that Cabello was able to gain insight from the experience.
“I don’t want to say that this situation leaves me hopeless because I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity for personal growth. I really hope that an important lesson was learned in this. I hope there is genuine understanding about why this was absolutely unacceptable. I have spoken what is in my heart and pray this is transparent enough that I never have to speak on it again.”
Billboard
