All Things Music

British singer Adele has been accused of transphobia after saying she “loves being a woman” during an acceptance speech at the 2022 BRIT Awards this week. The “Easy On Me” singer made these comments after receiving the award for Artist of the Year.

“This is amazing, thank you. I really wasn’t expecting this one at all,” Adele said. “I love being an artist, I really do, and I genuinely can’t believe it is my job.”

“And real artistry, I know I’ve spoken about it before, but there’s so many new artists here–England, the UK, we have so many incredible new young artists coming up and never lose sight of why you are who you are. The reason people are into you is because of something that you have in you. Don’t ever let go of that ever,” she continued.

“Also, I understand why the name of this award has changed, but I really love being a woman and being a female artist, I do. I do. I’m really proud of us. I really really am. Thank you so much.”

WATCH:

Adele’s comments generated a bit of online controversy following the awards, who made the decision to scrap gendered categories back in November.

“Please, no, ADELE can’t be a TERF. That last comment, though ambiguous, could be perceived as TERF-y. Please no,” one user wrote on Twitter. The term, TERF, which has also been used in reference to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, means “trans exclusionary radical feminist.”

At the Brit Awards just now, Adele said, “I really love being a woman and being a female artist” and that is worthy of calling her a misogynistic slur apparently.

🙄 pic.twitter.com/uHk2cqh5sD

— Sall Grover (@salltweets) February 8, 2022

Another user accused Adele of “throwing shade” at the award show’s decision to keep things “gender neutral.”

So did Adele just throw shade at the Brits decision to make awards gender neutral? Not the smartest move #Brits

— Cal_McFab (@Cal_McFab) February 8, 2022

This user later walked back his comments after admitting he didn’t “catch exactly” what the singer said.

She said that she I understands why the categories needed a change and then went onto say that she’s proud to be a woman in the music industry etc. 😊 She has every right to feel proud, she’s amazing! There was no shade.

— Molly Ryan (@itsmollyryan) February 9, 2022

True! When I tweeted this I didn’t catch exactly what she said. I’m all for female empowerment! I guess as a big artist you’ve just got to tread the line carefully too

— Cal_McFab (@Cal_McFab) February 9, 2022

A third user admitted to having “lost a lot of respect” for the singer following her comments.

But for all those who were upset by Adele’s comments, an equal amount of social media users defended the singer.

One user advised the original poster of the “TERF” tweet to “get a grip.”

You think Adele’s a ‘terf’ because she wanted to be classed as a female artist? Get a grip with your first world misogynistic rhetoric.

— Hannah Evelyn Jones (@hanevelynjones) February 8, 2022

Another user said he rolled his eyes “so far back into [his] head” that “they hurt.”

Finally, journalist and teacher Debbie Hayton praised Adele, calling her message to women and girls “inspirational.” Hayton also shared an article she wrote about the singer for the UK-based publication, The Spectator.

By me for @spectator: "Adele’s message to women and girls was inspirational. Here was a woman – who has sold tens of millions of albums – telling the world she was proud to be a woman. That's something to celebrate, not condemn."https://t.co/F2N6SHrjoS

— Debbie Hayton 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 (@DebbieHayton) February 9, 2022

Despite the controversy surrounding Adele’s speech, she fared well at the awards, taking home three trophies, including the aforementioned Artist of the Year.

So, did Adele do anything wrong? Sound off as to why or why not in the comments below.