The first song of Bollywood actors Ananya Panday and Ishaan Khattar's upcoming film Khaali Peeli dropped online on Sunday and has been falling from grace ever since.
The song titled Beyonce Sharma Jayegi is being accused of racism for glorifying Ananya's white skin by comparing it to Beyoncé, a black woman, alluding to how the latter would feel ashamed after witnessing the beauty of the prior.
The music video of the track shows Ananya and Ishaan dressed in sequined outfits, dancing in a circus, and there's no denying the lyrics make it feel like one as well. Sung by Nakash Aziz and Neeti Mohan, the track is composed by Vishal, Shekhar and written by Kumaar and Raj Shekhar, according to Hindustan Times.
Since its release, Indian Twitter has been imploding with apologies from users on behalf of the Bollywood fraternity for producing a track so degrading to everything the Black Lives Matter movement stands for. Many have been expressing feelings of shame and disgust while others have been making memes out of the comparison between the 70-times Grammy nominee and the starlet who ventured into acting just a year ago.
An Indian VJ shared a clip from the song and wrote, “Oh Dear! #BeyonceSharmaJayegi Might be the worse thing I’ve seen ever! I’d like to apologise to @Beyonce for this racist sexist hot mess. #BLM #mondaythoughts.”
Oh Dear! #BeyonceSharmaJayegi
— Andy Kumar (@iAmVJAndy) September 7, 2020
Might be the worse thing I’ve seen ever! ๐คฎ
I’d like to apologise to @Beyonce for this racist sexist hot mess. #BLM #mondaythoughts https://t.co/EXc1zmdHFe
“Beyonce Sharma Jayegi was not only problematic and racist, but it did not even rhyme! That is the least they could do! Dhinchak Pooja songs rhymed better than #BeyonceSharmaJayegi,” a user wrote. “Hindi songs lyrics hit a new low! Extremely disappointed and disgusted! #BeyonceSharmaJayegi #KhaaliPeeli #KhaaliPeeliTrailer,” remarked another.
'Beyonce sharma jayegi' was not only problematic and racist. IT DID NOT EVEN RHYME! THAT IS THE LEAST THEY COULD DO!
— shawty (@anokhikhi) September 7, 2020
Dhinchak Pooja songs rhymed better than #BeyonceSharmaJayegi
#BeyonceSharmaJaayegi Hindi songs lyrics hit a new low! Extremely disappointed & disgusted! #BeyonceSharmaJayegi #KhaaliPeeli #KhaaliPeeliTrailer
— Prerna Wahi @prernasdiaries (@Prerna_wahi) September 7, 2020
“This is just blatantly ignoring the fact that they’re glorifying fair skin (yet again) and then comparing it to Beyoncé (a black woman). This is racist! Y’all are embarrassing yourselves. Take this down and apologise!” urged one more.
“If Beyonce is creating a petition to ban the makers of Khaali Peeli from ever making another item song again, I’m signing it. I also might put a revolver to all your heads and make you sign it as well. #BeyonceSharmaJayegi,” chimed in another.
This is just blatantly ignoring the fact how they're glorifying fair skin (yet again) and then comparing it to Beyoncé (a black woman). This is RACIST.
— Rajvi Desai ๐ (@RajviDesai31) September 7, 2020
Y'all are embarrassing yourselves. TAKE ๐ THIS ๐ DOWN ๐ AND๐ APOLOGIZE ๐ #BeyonceSharmaJayegi https://t.co/eyVv6xsakP
If @Beyonce is creating a petition to ban the makers of Khaali Peeli from making another item song EVER again, I'm signing it. I also might put a revolver to all your heads and make you sign it as well. #BeyonceSharmaJayegi
— Incredible Sulk (@SaranyaPatnaik) September 7, 2020
And then there were the memers:
Maro mujhe maro
Watch till the end ๐๐ #BeyonceSharmaJayegi pic.twitter.com/yxoHGWkB6o
— เคตเคฟเคเคฏ (@bijjuu11) September 8, 2020
Rashi ben
#BeyonceSharmaJayegi who the hell wrote the lyrics
— Punit lakra (@Punitlakra2000) September 8, 2020
Such a disgusting song pic.twitter.com/bxQTb1rzgi
In a parallel universe
She had won 20 fucking Grammy..... 70+ nominations
— rajjo ๐คท๐ปโ๏ธ (@naginaa_) September 8, 2020
And you comparing his struggle with these shits #fuckingnepokids .What the hell is this #BeyonceSharmaJayegi , shakal k sath akal bhi honi chahiye BC ๐๐ pic.twitter.com/NcCTcJOF0Q
When it actually hits you
My reactions when I see hashtag #BeyonceSharmaJayegi pic.twitter.com/FQxyrwqSTU
— ๐๐ปANI Source (@ReporterVirus) September 8, 2020
For how long?
Indians to Vishal and Shekhar :#BeyonceSharmaJayegi pic.twitter.com/JT8zR3Uky0
— ใ ค ใ ค ใ ค ใ ค ใ ค ใ ค ใ ค ใ ค ใ ค (@theesmaarkhan) September 7, 2020
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