Princess Nokia in sexism row over Cambridge University performance

Rapper was reportedly harassed during her performance

Roisin O'Connor
Wednesday 22 February 2017 13:56 GMT
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Rapper Princess Nokia was reportedly involved in an incident involving a "public display of sexism and misogynoir" at Cambridge University last week.

The New York artist was performing at a charity fashion show on 15 February, where it is claimed she encountered a white male student who "harassed her during her performance".

A post written by members of Fly - Cambridge University's network for women and non-binary people of colour - detailed the alleged incident that left the musician, whose real name is Destiny Frasqueri, "shaken".

The student who reportedly harassed her was said to have shouted "dirty obscenities like, 'show me your tits'", Fly reported.

The audience member in question has since denied claims he used sexist language.

He told the Cambridge Student: "I was standing in the audience and was told by a fellow audience member that the name of the performer was 'Abigail'. Given that I was enjoying the performance, I shouted out 'Let's go Abigail!'"

The report claims that witnesses saw Frasqueri halt during her third track, jump off stage and hit the audience member three times.

She then allegedly returned to the stage then said "that's what you do when a white boy disrespects you" before leaving.

Princess Nokia told Fly that she regretted that the set ended ahead of schedule and that she wanted to "let the women of colour know she was sorry".

The post wrote that she felt the incident left her in a position of feeling "her safety and comfort were severely compromised".

Writers said that the alleged incident was "all too common in the daily experiences of women of colour at Cambridge... emblematic of the routine degredation of women, especially women of colour, who attempt to operate within spaces dominated by white men - spaces like Cambridge".

The Independent has contacted Princess Nokia for comment.

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