Doja Cat, the popular artist known for her hit song “Paint the Town Red,” recently cleared the air about rumors circulating for months. In an interview released on Thursday with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden, she denied the allegations that she hates her fans, affectionately known as “Kittenz.” Contrary to reports and misquotations, Doja Cat emphasized, “You’ll never see a direct quote of me saying, ‘I hate my fans.'” She deemed it a product of misunderstandings, attributing it to people not catching her humor.
During the interview with Darden, Doja Cat laughed off the gossip surrounding her alleged disdain for her fans. She acknowledged that there are people who understand her, while others might miss the mark, saying, “It’s definitely something, and I know that people who get it, get it, and I’m fine with that.” She firmly stated that explaining her sense of humor or comedy is unnecessary, asserting, “If people don’t see the joke, then they just don’t see the joke. It’s not my responsibility to have them understand.”
Doja Cat faced backlash in July when she lost over 250,000 followers after refusing to tell her fans that she loved them on social media. Her response to a fan’s request for confirmation was, “I don’t though cuz I don’t even know yall.” This led to accusations of rudeness and ungratefulness, to which she replied, “nobody forced you [to support me] idk why you’re talking to me like you’re my mother… you sound like a crazy person.” Additionally, she criticized her fans for naming themselves Kittenz and advised them to “get a job.” Furthermore, her comments about her first two albums being “cash-grabs” raised eyebrows.
Doja Cat’s recent interview is not the first time she has addressed the criticism and controversy surrounding her interactions with fans. In an August interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she hypothesized that fans may develop a sense of ownership over her, leading to outrage when she behaves unexpectedly. Doja Cat questioned the perception of her by fans who have never met her in real life, theorizing that they may subconsciously view her as less real.
Doja Cat aims to set the record straight and clarify misunderstandings about her relationship with her fans. While some fans may not grasp her humor, she remains unapologetic, asserting that it is not her responsibility to make everyone understand. The artist acknowledges that controversies and mistakes have occurred but reminds fans that she is human, capable of growth and learning from past experiences.