Emotional Chlöe Bailey Discusses Negative Comments On Saweetie's 'ICY University'

Singer and actress Chlöe Bailey got a bit emotional during a candid interview with rapper Saweetie on the performer’s YouTube channel Icy University. The societal pressures and backlash she receives online for her sexy and grown vibe in her Instagram posts have taken a toll on the 23-year-old. “Every day you can see so many positive comments, but then you’ll see that one that kind of just really messes with you. And you’ll be thinking about it the whole day,” said the Grownish actress. Who admits that she immediately begins to wonder “Well, do I need to change this part of myself? Am I doing this wrong? What’s going on?”

Bailey and her sister Halle Bailey make up the duo Chloe x Halle and were discovered and mentored by Queen Bey herself Beyonce. The girls have gone on to focus on separate projects after starring in Grownish together on Freeform. Chloe has been admittedly trying to own her sexuality and boost her own confidence. One of the ways she has been doing that is performing sexy renditions of hits like Yung Bleu’s You’re Mines Still, Beyonce’s 1+1, and Jazmine Sullivan’s Pick Up Your Feelings. I’m not all the way there yet, but I’m learning. So as I’m speaking it out, I’m teaching it to myself. I always pray when I feel like I can’t really handle it. And then I realize that you are perfect just the way you are.

Sister, Halle has also experienced some backlash from fans. The 21-year-old was ridiculed for winning over the role of Ariel in the live-action Little Mermaid. Fans of the Disney film complained about everything Halle not being the correct skin tone, to fans being annoyed AF that their favorite celebrity didn’t land the role. The sister’s make sure to back each other up and made it very clear that of “you’re coming for her, you’re coming for me”. When a hater tried to publicly say people were “overhyping shawty,” referring to Chloe, Halle shut it down immediately.  "Girl let's not start,” she wrote. “Be blessed!! God loves you too!!!” clearly ready to pounce if need be.

Bailey went on to share that she knows she is here for a reason and does not plan on allowing anyone to dim her shine. “I’m not going to let other people’s opinions sway my path and where I’m supposed to be going.” Keeping that frame of mind has been easier said than done but the singer maintains that it is a daily practice. Not all days are good, “there’s some days where I’m like ‘I can’t do this, no.’” explains Bailey. “But then there’s other days where it’s like ‘Okay, I have the strength. I can keep going, and I’m gonna be proud of myself for doing it.'”

Bailey was overtaken by emotion as she shared a powerful message that even Saweetie was in complete awe of. “For every woman out there, don’t change who you are to make society feel comfortable. And I’m telling myself that’s not what I’m going to do… I just felt it was important to address it, so you guys get to kind of know who I am inside.” She also notes that the sexualization of her video is something that she never expected and is still confused about but understands that society is wired that way.