Every music icon has different ways to shout out their queer fans, from wholesome messages about Pride to voicing support for LGBTQ+ issues. But for up-and-coming singer-songwriter Jae Stephens, a shoutout to the gays looked like shutting one of them down.
The saga started when an X user named Jimmy posted a clip from Stephens’ music video for her single “Body Favors” off her new EP SELLOUT. It was Jimmy’s caption that caught Stephens’ (and the internet’s) attention: “the director yelled ‘your only listeners are F*GS!!!’ but she heard ‘quick make everyone GAG!!!’ and ran with it,” Jimmy wrote. His post has since amassed over 1.1 million views.
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Stephens then replied to Jimmy’s post, writing, “i do nOT endorse this message.” But even she couldn’t help but appreciate her song getting a viral post. When one user asked how she’d be repaying Jimmy for the promo, she replied, “a meeting with HR.”
But the gays wouldn’t mind even if Stephens did endorse Jimmy’s message. “ITS OKAY THE GAYS SUPPORT THIS STATEMENT,” one fan assured her — and when it comes to making music, having the queer community on your side is always a good thing.
YOU DIDN’T SAY IT, I DID!!!!!! #JaeIsNOToverParty
— jimmy (@jimmysoldout) November 12, 2024
KSKSKSKSKSKS ITS OKAY THE GAYS SUPPORT THIS STATEMENT
— tonio nico robin 🌸 (@twokneeyoh) November 12, 2024
All press is good press.
— Antique (SGAT MV OUT NOW) (@antique_iv) November 12, 2024
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Amid the chaos of Stephens’ and Jimmy’s back and forth, the internet took notice of the fact that “Body Favors” does, in fact, slap, and the music video is super cute, too. Stephens encouraged her newfound fandom to check it out: “i just feel like if a tweet can get 1m views this vid should be able to crack 200k idk,” she wrote.
Check out the music video for “Body Favors” below, and stream SELLOUT wherever you get your music.
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