Highlights:
- Charli XCX speaks out on sexism in the life of a pop star
- Charli XCX reveals the harsh scrutiny female pop stars face
- Explains how public perception twists personality into a narrative
- Talks about being judged for every move she makes
- Shares the exhausting reality behind glamorous tours and parties
Charli XCX has gone beyond the glitz to expose the sexism female pop stars still face. In a candid essay, she said that no matter what a woman does in pop music, someone will label it the wrong way. Sexy becomes “whore,” rebellious becomes “drug addict,” smart becomes “pretentious.” Her reflections also touch on the hidden side of touring life, showing that fame isn’t just lights and parties, it’s long waits, chaotic travel, and constant scrutiny.
Charli XCX calls out sexism and public scrutiny in the music industry Getty Images
Why Charli XCX says public perception is brutal
Charli argues that marketing and strategy can only guide an image so far. At the end of the day, she says, fans and media decide what a pop star “is”. “Sometimes people don’t like to be lumped in with general consensus, they like to go against the grain,” she notes.
She points to the gendered nature of these judgements. Women are still boxed into neat roles. Step outside, and the backlash comes fast. Charli calls it part of a bigger societal pattern: “The patriarchal society we live in has brainwashed everyone. We are trained to hate women if they step out of the box.”
Charli XCX reveals harsh criticism female pop stars face every dayGetty Images
The hidden life behind the spotlight
Even beyond public opinion, Charli highlights the “weird, in-between” moments of a pop star’s life. Hours spent in airports, greenrooms, or waiting on set often outweigh the glamorous performances fans see. She recalls one night when an actress flew straight from a Paris show to London for a shoot, barely got any rest, and was on set for just an hour. That is just a glimpse of the unseen grind behind the music.
These liminal spaces, she says, are where the reality of pop life hits hardest. Fame can feel thrilling, but it is tiring. Charli talks about long tours, nonstop travel, and people watching every move.
Charli XCX exposes the hidden pressures behind being a female pop starGetty Images
What this means for female pop stars
Charli’s essay is a reminder that even top stars are not immune to criticism, especially women. She also touches on how this criticism often comes with a false moral expectation, as if fame requires honesty or perfection at all times. Charli says being a pop star isn’t about following a rulebook.
Charli XCX slams judgement on women in pop music and touring lifeGetty Images
She just wants to make her music and perform her way. Fans see the lights, the costumes, the crowd and the energy. What they don’t see are the late flights, the waiting, and the people who always have an opinion. It is exhausting just keeping up.
Kajol and Twinkle Khanna respond to backlash
Kajol and Twinkle Khanna address chat show backlash in new Prime Video episode
Highlights:
The backlash around Kajol and Twinkle Khanna's show Two Much did not suddenly appear one morning. You could feel it brewing from the first few episodes through tiny comments here and there turning into bigger conversations online. The marriage bit especially set things off; one short clip, and the whole thing snowballed. In the new bonus episode, shot after filming ended, the two finally spoke about the moment after weeks of noise.
Why the Kajol Twinkle Khanna backlash picked up so fast
The show ran on loose talk, quick lines, and a lot of teasing. It worked early on. Then came the episode with Vicky Kaushal and Kriti Sanon, where Kajol said marriages should have an expiry date and maybe even a renewal.
From there, it only grew. Another episode with Janhvi Kapoor and Karan Johar brought the debate on infidelity back into circulation. Kajol, Twinkle, and Karan said physical cheating was not a deal breaker for them. Janhvi pushed back and viewers argued for days. The backlash stuck, partly because clips were lifted out of context and partly because celebrity comments carry weight, even when framed as jokes.
How Kajol and Twinkle explained themselves
In the bonus episode, Kajol did not pretend everything was normal. She opened the segment with a half-laugh and said, “Now it’s time for our next segment, which has gotten us into a lot of trouble.” It sounded like a joke, but it was not entirely one. There was a slight crack of irritation or maybe tiredness underneath.
Twinkle followed with a straight note; they should have had a disclaimer from episode one. “Nothing we say in this segment should be taken seriously,” she said. “Please do not follow any of our advice.”
Both insisted the tone was always meant to be playful. Not expert talk. Not life lessons. Just two women poking fun at how people think about marriage, relationships, and the messy bits in between.
- YouTube youtu.be
What this means for the show now
Prime Video dropped the bonus episode with Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma in a way that almost felt strategic, like a small reset button to cool the temperature without actually issuing a statement or apology.
And honestly, the guest list this season was stacked in a very “this should be safe” way: Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sonakshi Sinha, Janhvi Kapoor. Big names, familiar energy. Nobody expected the backlash to come from them. It came from the little throwaway lines Kajol and Twinkle said around them.
What is next for Kajol and Twinkle?
No word yet on season two. Both seemed unfazed in the episode, almost amused by how far the clips travelled. They did not promise changes either. Just a note that their humour was not meant to be instruction.
Kajol ended the segment with a small smile. Twinkle nodded along. And that is where it sat. Two women, a chat show, and a storm they did not expect but chose to address head-on before signing off.