Lena Dunham subtweeted the fuck out of Justin Bieber yesterday, when she basically accused him of promoting rape culture:
Let’s do away with pop songs where a girl nods yes when she means no and vice versa, k?
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) August 31, 2015
She doesn’t actively name and shame the Biebs – the very definition of subtweeting, really – but it’s not hard to draw conclusions that she’s referring to Bieber’s new song ‘What Do You Mean‘, seeing as a) he performed it two days ago at the VMAs, and b) it literally references the opening lines:
What do you mean? Oh, oh
When you not your head yes
But you wanna say no
Taken out of context, it does kind of imply every self-entitled frat boy who believes it’s his god-given right as a male to stick it in whether or not she wants him to.
But – and it’s a weird experience to be siding with Bieber over Dunham, let us tell you – it *looks* like Lena might have gotten the wrong end of the stick. The mopey song appears to be about the sad end of a relationship where you know it’s gotta end, but you’re not ready to let go yet, and the whole “nod your head yes but you wanna say no” line is just about being confused as fuck about the whole thing. Not consent or lack thereof.
Have a watch / read and make your own judgment:
What do you mean? Oooh
When you nod your head yes
But you wanna say no
What do you mean? Heeey
When you don’t want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
Said we’re running out of time
What do you mean?
Oh oh oh What do you mean?
Better make up your mind
What do you mean?
You’re so indecisive of what I’m saying
Trying to catch the beat, make up your heart.
Don’t know if you’re happy, or complaining.
Don’t want for us to end where do I start
First you wanna go to the left and you want to turn right
Wanna argue all day, making love all night.
First you up and you’re down and then between
Ohh I really want to know…
What do you mean?
When you nod your head yes
But you wanna say no
What do you mean?
When you don’t want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
Said we’re running out of time
What do you mean?
Better make up your mind
What do you mean?
You’re overprotective when I’m leaving
Trying to compromise but I can’t win
You wanna make a point but you keep preaching
You had me from the start won’t let this end
First you wanna go to the left then you want to turn right
Wanna argue all day make love all night
First you up and you’re down then you’re between
Ohh I really want to know…
What do you mean? Ooh..
When you nod your head yes
But you wanna say no.
What do you mean? (oh what do you mean)
When you don’t want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
I wanna know
Oh what do you mean?
(Ooh)
Said you’re running out of time
What do you mean? (ah baby)
Oh oh oh what do you mean?
Better make up your mind
What do you mean?
When you nod your head yes, but you wanna say no
What do you mean?
(You’re so confusing baby)
Heyyy, when you don’t want me to move,
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
Said we’re running out of time
What do you mean?
Oh oh oh what do you mean?
Better make up your mind
What do you mean?
If you have experienced sexual assault, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Picture: Theo Wargo via Getty Images.
