Cardi B defends featuring Kylie Jenner in ‘WAP’ music video after outcry and petition

Cardi B is on the defense about Kylie Jenner’s appearance in the music video for her “WAP” duet with Megan Thee Stallion following a Change.org petition to “remove” Jenner that currently has more than 65,000 signatures.

The cosmetics mogul’s quick door-opening scene in the Colin Tilley-directed video has left many outraged, though the reason is less than clear. “The video was perfect until we saw K and I wanted to throw my phone,” petition organizer Nina YouTube wrote, without elaborating.

Since its release on Friday, the racy, pastel-colored and sexually suggestive clip has generated more than 60 million views on YouTube. It also features cameos from several rising hip-hop artists, including Mulatto, Rubi Rose, Sukihana, Rosalía and Normani.

But one point of contention of many is Jenner’s placement.

In a series of now-deleted tweets captured by Pop Crave, Cardi B explained that the Kardashian clan member’s appearance was due to her treatment of the singer’s sister, Hennessy, and daughter, Kulture, at Jenner’s daughter Stormi’s birthday party earlier this year.

The Grammy-winning rapper added that her husband, Offset, is close friends with Jenner’s baby’s daddy, Travis Scott, and Kris Jenner’s longtime boyfriend Corey Gamble. She also noted Kardashian matriarch Kris occasionally gives her “advice on certain things.”

Cardi B replied to a series of tweets from former Essence magazine writer/producer Danielle Young, who took her to task for the casting choice.

“Normani did ALL this and Kylie walked down the hall and opened a door,” Young addressed on Twitter. “If that’s not a perfect visual indication of Black women having to do the most and white women do the bare minimum to get somewhere, I don’t know what is.”

In her defense, the “Bodak Yellow” lyricist further explained Normani’s small dance role in the video, which other fans felt should have been bigger. “Normani is one of the best female artists that dances her [butt] off!” she fired back. “Why would she open a door? Please tell me how that would make sense? The best part of the song is the beat & hook it what makes you want to shake your [butt].”

Through the years of their notoriety, many members of the Kardashian family, who have close ties to Black people, have come under scrutiny for cultural appropriation.

“Not everything is about race,” former “Love & Hip Hop” star Cardi B, whose real name is Belcallis Almanzar, maintained.

“I wanna say thank you to every woman that was apart of my video!” Cardi B continued in another tweet.

“The fact that you made time in your schedules means a lot to me! It was so important to me to include different women, that are different races and come from different backgrounds but are so powerful and influential.”