“Is she confusing feminism with lesbianism cause… what?” — Netizens react as Gloria Gaynor denies being a ‘feminist’ because she loves men

"Voices of a Lifetime" Premiere Event - Source: Getty
Gloria Gaynor attends the "Voices of a Lifetime" premiere in New York City. (Image via Getty/Bryan Bedder)

Fans can't stop ripping into Gloria Gaynor's apparent definition of feminism.

In a recent interview with Metro published Monday, May 5, the veteran songstress set the record straight on what the biggest misconception people have about her is.

“The biggest misconception about me? Hmm. It may be dangerous to say this, but… that I’m a feminist. People say it to me, ‘And since you’re a feminist…’ Erm, no. Not really. I love men. I grew up with five brothers, and I love men.”

Fans have since begun poking fun at the disco legend, with many pointing out that's not the definition of feminism. Here's what one user penned:

"Is she confusing feminism with lesbianism cause… what?"

The comments didn't end there:

"being a feminist doesn’t mean that u dislike men….." one user pointed out.
"I think the biggest issue with feminism is that people don’t know what it is," another chimed in.
"I think she doesn’t understand what feminism means bc what," yet another echoed.
"Feminists don't hate men. We just like accountability and fairness. You can also do both, stand up for women's rights and love men. Bless her, she is from another era. I get it," a fourth user chimed in.

Even more chimed in to opine:

"Girl… being a feminist doesn’t mean- Sigh…" one user penned.
"That was the most ignorant statement I’ve ever heard. She’s too grown to speak like this," another opined.
"What does loving men have to do with women having rights," someone else probed.
"not knowing the difference between feminism and misandry oh brother," yet another asserted.

Users were visibly disappointed about the way Gloria Gaynor handled the question, with many asserting she should know better.


Gloria Gaynor says she loves men who identify women as "partners and not opponents": Read more

During her recent interview with Metro, Gloria Gaynor said:

“I love men who know who they are and are strong enough to take their place, but also strong enough to recognize a woman’s strengths and … allow her to exercise those strengths and realize that we are to be partners and not opponents.”

Gloria Gaynor is renowned for her 1979 smash I Will Survive, which dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart in its heyday. The track is also regarded as a legendary feminist anthem, contrary to how its singer identifies. According to Merriam-Webster, by definition,

Feminism is the “belief in and advocacy of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests."

The two-time Grammy winner’s latest interview comes on the heels of her announcement that a new EP, Happy Tears, will be dropping this June 6. She dropped a single out of the five-track project this February, titled Fida Known. Telling Metro the song is her favorite of the bunch, Gloria Gaynor said,

“The song is all about helping people to look back on the things that they’ve overcome and to recognize what they’ve come through. It’s, ‘If I’d have known this, I wouldn’t have done that,’ but you didn’t know that, and you still made it through.” Gaynor added, “The song sort of continues where ‘I Will Survive’ left off.”
Edited by Zainab Shaikh