Doja Cat’s 7 most controversial moments ever, from that Sam Hyde T-shirt and offensive take on Filipino food balut, to feuding with Stranger Things’ Noah Schnapp and calling Covid ‘a flu’

Oct 17 , 2023

Since releasing her debut EP in 2014, Doja Cat has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom. But could the controversies she frequently finds herself embroiled in damage her career down the line? Photo: Getty Images

The Grammy winner has belittled Covid-19, used racist and homophobic slurs, lashed out at 17-year-old Schnapp, and associated with controversial figures from Chris Brown to Twitch streamer J Cyrus

The singer and rapper seems unfazed by the backlash, despite reportedly losing half a million Instagram followers, and her fourth album Scarlet only charting at No 4

Doja Cat, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, is one of the hottest and most fashionable acts in the pop music industry today, known for hits like “Kiss Me More” and “Woman” from her popular 2021 album Planet Her. But her musical achievements often share the spotlight with the numerous controversies she’s associated with.

Doja Cat poses on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, New Jersey, US, on September 12. Photo: EPA-EFE

Notorious for her online antics, the Grammy-winning rap artist embraces the role of what’s known as a “s***poster”, often sharing provocative and nonsensical messages on social media. And while this behaviour has helped the 27-year-old attract an audience and amplify her music over the years, it has also sparked significant backlash, including reportedly losing half a million Instagram followers in a month this past summer after she openly mocked her fans.

This impact was felt when Scarlet, her latest album, debuted at a lower-than-expected No 4 on US’ Billboard 200 albums chart, despite its lead single “Paint the Town Red” topping the Billboard Hot 100.

Doja Cat is known for her bold and quirky ensembles. Photo: @dojacat/Instagram

Doja Cat’s career is peppered with contentious moments, from using racial and homophobic slurs to trolling fans, weaving a complex narrative of success and scandal. So how will the artist’s reputation shape her future in the music industry?

Let’s take a closer look at seven of Doja Cat’s most problematic moments ever.

1. Playing down Covid-19, calling it “a flu”

Doja Cat at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, on February 5. Photo: Reuters

In March 2020 – the month the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic – Doja Cat sparked outrage during an Instagram live session where she poured scorn on those struggling with the coronavirus. The rapper dismissively compared the lethal virus – which has claimed around 7 million lives to date – to the flu, stating, “I’m gonna get corona and then I’m gonna get a Corona, ’cause I don’t give a f*** about corona. B****, it’s a flu. I’m not scared. Y’all are p****, period.”

She contracted the virus in July 2020, and again in December 2021.

2. Alt-right chat rooms and racist slurs

Doja Cat’s fourth studio album, Scarlet, was released in September. Photo: @dojacat/Instagram