Rapper Cardi B has come out swinging after a social media user claimed that the star's association with the Hermés Birkin bag has devalued the luxury accessory item, long considered a symbol of status in the fashion world.
"I seen this tweet that it had me and it had other female rappers on it and they were talking about if we could get Birkins from the Hermès store and they [were] also saying how we depreciate the value of a Hermés Birkin bag," the star began in a video posted to Instagram.
"I find that really interesting, right, because first thing first, right - I definitely could get a bag. Actually, I got four bags today from the Hermés store."
Cardi went on to address the comment's racist subtext, pointing out that white celebrities don't face the same public scrutiny over their luxury fashion accessories.
"Why is it that y'all asking female rappers if they could get a bag from the Hermès store. Y'all don't do this to these white celebrities," she said.
"So, why is it that y'all gotta be asking us?"
The rapper continued: "Another thing is that they're saying that we depreciate the value. Like hip-hop, we start trends. When y'all say that we devalue shit, no, we actually add value.
"And another thing is, why when a Black girl, why when a Hispanic girl have a bag, y’all you have to question it?" Cardi added in her Instagram video.
"There's a lot of boss ass bitches out here. There’s a lot of boss ass bitches that own their company, there’s realtors, there’s PRs, there’s A&Rs, there’s doctors, there’s dentists and the list go fucking on."
Cardi's hit tracks 'Bodak Yellow,' which includes lyrics about Louboutins, and 'I Like It', which references Balenciaga, both prompted massive sales spikes for the two brands, with Cardi becoming the face of Balenciaga's autumn/winter 2020 campaign as a result.
