Girls, girls, girls. Rita Ora celebrates women in the video for her collaboration “Girls” featuring Cardi B, Bebe Rexha, and Charli XCX.
Directed by Helmi, the retro-meets-futuristic clip finds Rita surrounded by all women in a lush garden setting. Dressed in intimate attire, the ladies lounge on rugs and make out with each other. Charli wears all white while roaming through the forest, Bebe performs in front a mirror, and Rita dons a nude bodysuit and a crown gold roses. Cardi appears a hologram to deliver her verse before kissing Rita on the lips.
The song was openly criticized by Kehlani and Hayley Kiyoko for its “tone deaf” lyrics, which prompted Rita to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community. “‘Girls” was written to represent my truth and is an accurate account a very real and honest experience in my life,” she said. “I have had romantic relationships with women and men throughout my life and this is my personal journey. I am sorry how I expressed myself in my song has hurt anyone. I would never intentionally cause harm to other LGBTQ+ people or anyone.”
Cardi also chimed in about the controversy. “We never try to cause harm or had bad intentions with the song,” tweeted the “Bodak Yellow” rapper. “I personally myself had experiences with other woman, shiieeett with a lot woman!”
“Girls” is a single f Ora’s upcoming album, her first for Warner Music.