Janelle Monae is one of the all-time greats. She's an extraordinarily talented musician who also happens to be an exceptional actor, one of the few people capable of consistently lighting up every red carpet she graces.
Monae ought to go viral every other day but, turns out that she has to show a little skin to really take off. Maybe a lot of skin.
On May 11, Janelle Monae was performing to a lively audience when, as she was really getting into the music, the mood, the moment, Monae lifted her shirt and flashed her boobs to the crowd. Just for a moment, mind you, but being that this is the internet, all it takes is a moment.
Under a microscope, you could view this as a stunt intended to drum up attention for The Age of Pleasure, Janelle Monae's just-announced new album (very appropriate name).
But, taken as a whole, Monae's concert flash is simply a good thing.
Janelle Monae is one of the celebrities — along with, say, Lil Nas X and Lizzo — who's leading the charge in favor of cultural body positivity.
This only serves to better the world: anyone as comfortable in their own skin as Janelle Monae is an inspiration for the rest of us.
Wouldn't society be improved if we all felt as good about ourselves as Monae clearly does? This woman is clearly at peace with her own body and that's pure aspiration — take notes and love yourselves, everyone.
Of course, Twitter was largely less moved by the idea of Janelle Monae's body representing a greater good and more moved by, well, Monae's body.
There was also, frustratingly, a swift overreaction from the puritanical conservatism that plagues nearly every conversation about self-love.
Happily, though, the loudest voices were in defense of Janelle Monae because, uh, it's her body and she can do whatever the hell she wants with it.
Anyone overly sensitive that a woman willingly showed a tit or two needs to either seek help or unplug their computer. It's 2023, ya'll — people can get nude if they wanna.
Janelle Monae's concert flash occurs mere days after she shut down the 2023 Met Gala with only her latest amazing Thom Browne look.
Unlike her previous Thom Browne outfits, though — Janelle Monae has singularly worn more Thom Browne than most of the planet — Monae's 2023 Met Gala look was a transforming trompe l'oiel masterpiece revealed to be a wireframe shell hidden beneath piles of "clothes."
When her carapace was unveiled, Monae stormed the Met Gala wearing little more than a bikini and big boots, guaranteeing one of the 2023's most memorable red carpet looks (if not ever).
Later, at the Met Gala afterparties, Monae stripped down even further, wearing nothing but her fancy bikini top and bottoms as she stole the show by singing and dancing atop counters.
All this is to say that more Janelle Monae is always a good thing. If it takes a quick flash of some boobs to steer the conversation towards her again, so be it.
