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Bebe Rexha called out ageism in the music industry on her Instagram yesterday, writing about a male music executive who told her that at 29, she was getting “too old” for her sexy image. Other musicians, including Taylor Swift, Rita Ora, and Jamie Lynn Spears, rallied around her in the comments on her post.
Rexha wrote:
I recently had a MALE music executive tell me that I was getting too old and that my brand was “confusing.” Because… I’m a songwriter and I post sexy pics on my Instagram and that’s not what female songwriters are suppose to do, especially for my age. I’m 29.
I’m fed up with being put in a box. I make my own rules. I’m tired of women getting labeled as “hags” when they get old and guys get labeled as sexy with age. Anyways, I’m turning 30 on August 30 and you know what, I’m not running away from it. I’m not gonna lie about my age or sing songs that I feel will sell better because they sound “younger.” I’m gonna celebrate my age because you know what, I’m wiser, I’m stronger and TRUST ME I’m a much better lover than I was 10 years ago.
Swift, who’s also 29, commented, “DRAG THEM. 29 YEAR OLDS UNITE. 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗”
Ora wrote, “My sexy songwriting 👑 You are beautiful, getting sexier with age and your talent SINGS for itself. Keep making those rules 💞”
And Spears wrote, “HELL YEAH. FN RIGHT.”