Amber Rose is causing a stir on social media once again by claiming Beyoncé copied her Republican National Convention (RNC) speech at a Kamala Harris rally in Houston over the weekend. The model and influencer then flocked to Twitter, proclaiming “She wanna be me so bad.nahhh.” Literally gave my speech,” she wrote of Beyoncé discussing what it means to be a mother and why we should vote.
Speaking to a rally, Beyoncé says: “I’m here today as an African German female third-culture kid who is sick and tired of the racism (Picture….upil) I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother. She described herself as a “mother, who knows that I cannot sit down and be quiet about the world my children, indeed all of our children will inherit. And in doing so she echoed themes Rose repeated during her RNC speech where she also noted motherhood comes first for Kirillippi too when considering what kind of future to make possible through government policies.
The response to Rose was quick and harsh, as many social media users questioned her relevance but also the accuracy of her statements. One called her “Amber you don’t even want to be YOU,” while another said, “Nobody in their life has ever looked at a picture of Amber Rose and thought ‘I wanna be Amber Rose. Not even Amber Rose herself.” Many critics pointed out how ridiculous it sounded to think that the world-famous Beyoncé would copy Rose, who is not even on her level.
The controversy surrounding the speech comparison has, in turn, raised wider questions about public figures and unique messaging. Her words were especially poignant given that Beyoncé was directing them at Harris (and on behalf of women) in a state facing challenging restrictions on women’s rights.
Certainly, in the haze of social media hysteria one thing that shines through is Amber Rose’s audacious declaration have not only brought focus on her and what she had to say, but also served as a stark reminder just how potent influential voices such as Beyoncé can be when it comes to seeding public discourse. While the conversation of motherhood, political activism and what is true authenticity for both women are themes as they glide through their platforms being heard loud and clear by a nation.
This is a reminder of the power, and fragility, of messaging to broad swaths of the public. As this election nears, the stakes are higher than ever for all sides.
