STRYPER's MICHAEL SWEET Criticizes CARDI B's 'WAP', Says He Doesn't Want His Granddaughter Subjected To 'That Garbage'

September 15, 2020

Michael Sweet of openly Christian rockers STRYPER has criticized rap superstar Cardi B over the suggestive lyrics to her single "WAP", saying he doesn't want his granddaughter subjected to that "garbage."

"WAP" debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart last month, breaking numerous streaming records and spawning a viral TikTok dance challenge. The track's lyrics, which are about female sexual liberation, have also been the subject of controversy, with several right-wing commentators implying "WAP" was specifically marketed to young girls, when the song's obvious audience is adults.

Sweet offered his opinion of "WAP" in an interview with the "Cobras & Fire" podcast, where the vocalist/guitarist was promoting STRYPER's new album, "Even The Devil Believes".

Asked by host Jason "Bakko" Bakken about his September 2 social media post in which he called "WAP" "a piece of crap," with the word "crap" replaced by a poop emoji, Sweet said: "I don't wanna come across like a prude or someone that is closed-minded, but I just find it interesting how, here we are in 2020 fighting for women's rights, as we should be, and you've got videos like that.

"There's a time when it's not about judging — it's just about what's right and what's wrong," he continued. "I have a little granddaughter who has probably heard that song, and I'm thinking to myself, that just pisses me off. It pisses me off, the fact that she most likely has heard the song, because I don't want that garbage going into my granddaughter's ears.

"I think that we have a responsibility as artists, and many artists cross that line," Sweet added. "I said the same thing about [former child star] Miley Cyrus. Here she is on Disney — all these kids are looking up to her and following her — and the next thing you know, live in concert, she's riding a big, hanging… whatever," referring to the fact that Miley had a giant inflatable penis as a stage prop during her "Bangerz" tour. "And I'm just thinking, can't she just have a little responsibility — even just a smidgen of responsibility?"

Still, Sweet said he respected Cardi B's right to express herself freely as an artist.

"We live in America — she can do whatever she wants, as can I, by commenting on it," he said.

"Even The Devil Believes" was released on September 4 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Call me old fashioned but when I think of my grandkids listening to this and singing along to this piece of ? I get a...

Posted by Michael Sweet on Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Find more on Stryper
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).