'I'm fed up': Bebe Rexha hits back at male music executive who said she was 'too old' to be sexy
Bebe Rexha is hitting back after a music executive told her she was getting “too old” to be sexy.
The 29-year-old Grammy nominee took to social media to share her thoughts after a recent encounter left her feeling frustrated about the way women are dismissed as they age.
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“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 supposed to do, especially for my age,” Rexha wrote. “I’m 29.”
The “Meant to Be” singer shared a sultry lingerie mirror selfie to Instagram declaring that she was through with being told what she can and can’t do.
“I’m fed up with being put in a box. I make my own rules,” she continued. “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 with sell better because they sound ‘younger.’”
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“I’m gonna celebrate my age because you know what?” she continued. “I’m wiser, I’m stronger and trust me I’m a much better lover than I was 10 years ago.”
The post has received more than a million likes and has earned support from Rexha’s famous friends, including Taylor Swift, who commented, “Drag them. 29 year olds unite!”
“I know this story and this kind of ‘advice’ is so bullsh-t,” added “Unwritten” singer Natasha Bedingfield. “I love you!”
Fans chimed in that the experience of bias towards women as they age isn’t limited to the music industry, and something women from all walks of life experience. Age discrimination against women in the workplace can start as early as 35, causing many women to be overlooked for career opportunities, paid less than their coworkers and more vulnerable for lay-offs.
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“The ageism conversation is just getting started,” a female follower wrote. “The myth that women lose value over age 25 is asinine.”
“If someone thinks 29 is too old to be sexy, I’m genuinely scared to know what he thinks [what age] a female is sexy. His comment really opens doors to a bigger discussion of sexual predators in the industry.”
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