What Cara Delevingne did to Megan Thee Stallion isn’t “quirky.”
It isn’t “befuddling.”
It’s predatory.
For the benefit of those who are blissfully unaware of what the Internet is abuzz about these days: over the weekend, Megan (and countless other celebrities) attended the annual Billboard Music Awards.
According to Buzzfeed, Delevingne — a model turned actress with tangential connections to the British Royal Family — got onto the guestlist for the coveted awards ceremony by being Megan’s plus-one. But Delevingne’s behavior was…strange, to put it mildly.
“It’s probably important to note that — as far as we know — Megan and Cara have not previously made it clear that they’re close friends, or that they even hang out in the same circles. Which is what made the entire situation all the more baffling as the night went on,” reported the outlet.
And Cara Delevingne didn’t just make Megan Thee Stallion uncomfortable. As the night went on, the former model ingratiated herself into some of the industry’s most coveted circles — to the point that even Doja Cat seemed weirded out by Delevingne’s behavior.
But her behavior reached a fever pitch when Megan Thee Stallion was announced as the winner of an award — and Cara Delevingne’s response was to invade Megan’s personal space, stick her tongue out, and act like she was going to lick her face…clearly making Megan uncomfortable in the process.
And this isn’t the first time that Cara Delevingne has made other women — especially other Black women — uncomfortable with her behavior.
Yet, the subsequent coverage in other outlets makes it sound like Delevingne was acting in a “quirky and cute” way.
But it’s not quirky. It’s not cute.
It’s predatory.
And we need to learn how to name things for what they are, when we see them. Tell the truth and shame the devil, as the old adage goes.
And it’s time to tell some hard truths.
Women Can Be Predators, Too — And That Includes Cara Delevingne
When we think of predators, our minds — perhaps by default — think of men. But according to RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network), women can be predators too — and they’re a lot more common than you think.
By some estimates, anywhere between 1 percent and 9 percent of all predators are women.
What’s more, RAINN reports that any interaction without what’s known as “enthusiastic consent” — such as what’s seen between Megan Thee Stallion and Cara Delevingne — can, legally, be considered assault.
“Consent is about communication. And it should happen every time for every type of activity. Consenting to one activity, one time, does not mean someone gives consent for other activities or for the same activity on other occasions,” reports the organization.
Establish Your Boundaries — Unapologetically
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Megan Thee Stallion clearly had no problem sharing photos of herself on the Billboard Music Awards red carpet…with Cara Delevingne cropped out. And more power to her for doing so.
There is never a need for anyone — no matter their position in life, no matter their level of fame, and no matter any other factor — to make unwanted moves, engage in unwanted touching, or otherwise behave in a way that would be considered predatory if it were done by the opposite sex. And, indeed, it is predatory behavior, regardless of gender.
If you’ve experienced sexual assault, you’re not alone. To speak with someone who is trained to help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org.