Singer Normani has addressed her former Fifth Harmony bandmate Camila Cabello‘s shocking racist social media posts for the first time in a new interview.
The 23-year-old Motivation singer opened up to Rolling Stone about her emotional anguish on Friday as she broke her silence about Camila’s long hesitation to apologize for past hateful language.
The Havana singer, 22, a Cuban native who is set to star in a new Cinderella remake for Sony Pictures, used the N-word slur and posted racist memes referencing black stereotypes during her early teens.
In December, Camila apologized for the ‘uneducated and ignorant’ posts she shared on a now defunct tumblr account.
Normani suffer racist attacks on social media, largely from Camila’s fans, during their time together in Fifth Harmony.
Still hurt: After years of suffering from racist attacks on social media, largely from Camila’s fans, the 23-year-old Motivation singer opened up to Rolling Stone about her emotional anguish on Friday
Despite the narrative that Camila was the underdog among the women, Normani told the outlet, as the only black member, she often felt like ‘the other one in the room.’
Her feelings of ostracism and fear only amplified after ‘Camilizers’, superfans of Cabello, believed Normani insulted Camila by calling her ‘quirky.’
Normani’s father revealed her daughter is ‘still scarred’ from a series of horrific online bullies, who sent death threats and Photoshopped images of her being lynched after the perceived jab.
Tipping point: Her feelings of ostracism and fear only amplified after Camilizers, superfans of Cabello, believed Normani insulted Camila by calling her ‘quirky’
Normani acknowledged the band wasn’t equipped to handle the racial tensions, and it was difficult because they didn’t know how to be there for her.
When it was verified Cabello had shared and written racist slurs and memes around the age of 14, the former Dancing With The Stars contestant had trouble accepting the news.
In a written statement, Normani wanted to face the ‘uncomfortable subject’ and ‘avoid being misconstrued.’
‘It was devastating that this came from a place that was supposed to be a safe haven and a sisterhood, because I knew that if the tables were turned I would defend each of them in a single heartbeat,’ Normani told Rolling Stone
‘I face senseless attacks daily, as does the rest of my community. This represents a day in the life for us. I have been tolerating discrimination far before I could even comprehend what exactly was happening,’ she began in an email to Rolling Stone.
In a heart-wrenching reflection, Normani explained, the ‘particular scenario’ was more than hurtful.
‘It was devastating that this came from a place that was supposed to be a safe haven and a sisterhood, because I knew that if the tables were turned I would defend each of them in a single heartbeat,’ she added.
Forgiving: Months after the First Man singer’s apology, Normani told Rolling Stone that the situation doesn’t leave her ‘hopeless’
Adding insult to injury, Normani revealed it originally took Camila days to acknowledge her online torment, and ‘then years for her to take responsibility for the offensive tweets that recently resurfaced.’
Ultimately, she reveals her nonchalant behavior made her feel ‘second’ to her relationship with her fans.
The Señorita hitmaker has since publicly apologized and says she feels ‘deeply ashamed of’ her past language.
Tension: The Señorita hitmaker has since publicly apologized and says she feels ‘deeply ashamed of’ her past language, which included the N-word and black stereotypes
In December, Camila wrote on Instagram: ‘When I was younger, I used language that I’m deeply ashamed of and will regret forever. I was uneducated and ignorant and once I became aware of the history and the weight and the truth behind this horrible and hurtful language, I was deeply embarrassed I ever used it.
Months after her apology, Normani told Rolling Stone that the situation doesn’t leave her ‘hopeless.’
‘I really hope that an important lesson was learned in this. I hope there is genuine understanding about why this was absolutely unacceptable,’ she concluded. ‘I have spoken what is in my heart and pray this is transparent enough that I never have to speak on it again.’