by Doja Cat is over “incredibly disrespectful” internet trolls who liken her buzzcut to Britney Spears, who shaved her head nearly 20 years ago in one of pop culture’s most harrowing moments.
In August, the Grammy winner stunned fans when she debuted her clean-shaven noggin previously on Instagram shaved off her eyebrows live on camera while more than 20,000 Instagram viewers watched.
Since then, critics on social media have questioned the rapper’s newfound look, with some associating Doja with Spears shave them off hair in 2007 before being placed in a conservatory.
Spears’ incident came after her 24-hour stay at a Malibu rehabilitation center and amid a custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline over their sons Sean Preston Federline and James Jayden Federline.
“It’s so incredibly disrespectful when people downplay what Britney went through and make a joke out of something that was very serious and a big thing in her life,” said Doja, née Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini. said variety in a cover story published Wednesday.
The 27-year-old, who is known for her eclectic style of music and fashion, added, “Every time I see a comment like this I can’t fathom what’s happening other than it’s just an awful thing.”
Shortly after Doja’s new appearance sparked controversy on social media, the star took to Instagram in August to shut down her followers, who she claimed had ulterior motives for the hair change.
“I’m rich, I’m fine,” Doja said while streaming live on Instagram, adding, “The whole thing like ‘Are you alright Queen?’ Shit makes me rip my – well, I guess, the hairs I’ve let out. It makes me pull out my friggin’ pubic hair — I absolutely hate it.”
The “Woman” singer then addressed the real reason for her despair over the swirling rumors behind her new look. she explains shaved her head because she rarely showed her natural hair in her work.
She also nodded to the fact that she’d spent most of her career wearing wigs, adding that she’s always felt like she was “never allowed to have hair.”
“I don’t like having hair. I can’t tell you a single time since the beginning of my life that I’ve ever said, ‘That’s cool.’ I just don’t like having hair.” she said back then on Instagram.
“I remember feeling so freaking exhausted when I was working out,” she continued, explaining that her wigs often fell off her head during exercise. “I would work out but I couldn’t concentrate because I was more concerned with how I looked and how my hair was doing.”
Doja – who snagged five nominations for the Grammy 2023 — took home the award for Best Pop Duo or Group Performance alongside singer SZA at last year’s ceremony.
Her latest album Planet Her was released in 2021. The Grammys will be broadcast live Sunday at 8 p.m. ET at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
