Fan Mail: In defense of Janelle Monáe

Over the weekend, I got quite a few emails defending Janelle Monáe‘s decision to wear full ballet costume down the red carpet at Big Boi‘s premiere of BIG last week. I normally don’t receive a lot of emails over the weekend so I felt the need to respond.

I stand corrected that Janelle was IN the ballet and she was not a patron. But the fact remains that she chose to wear a tutu and ballet slippers on the red carpet when most ballet performers don’t.

There was a time when Janelle marketed herself as an alternative singer wearing her natural hair in a fro and sporting the latest fashions. Then within the past year, the alien from outer space persona emerged. The thing about gimmicks is that the public at large detests them. Gimmicks only work if they’re good.

I’m not knocking Janelle’s individuality. So don’t knock me when I point it out.

Hello Sandra,

I just wanted to correct on the statement you made regarding Janelle’s attire to the premiere of the BIG Ballet. For your information she was actually in the show and the outfit you saw her in was her stage costume for her segment. Thus, she was not a patron and you should really check your facts before publicly making incorrect assumptions!!

Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:01:42
From: Mind You
To: sandra@sandrarose.com
Subject: Breaking News Sandra Rose!

Hi Sandra,

To my knowledge, Ms. Monae is performing at the event you’ve posted photos about. I read your scathing remarks about her costume and I’m sure you don’t consider them to be harsh at all. Regardless of this, you know they are at least going to evoke such a negative response from some bloggers. Beyond this, you are clearly wrong about her merely being a patron at this event and now people will respond out of ignorance… ignorance you have fed them like the most deceptive hors d’oeuvres on a lackluster platter. I’m not the biggest fan of her and her very eclectic wear, but I think it is important that you correct yourself and note that she is a performer and that is probably a costume that she is wearing. She explicitly states she wears a uniform on the regular, but perhaps you missed. You don’t seem to be one to pride yourself on such gross inaccuracies, so I suspect you will correct this as soon as possible. Or maybe your pride will get in the way. You say her career is built off a gimmick, looks like your blog is built off of inaccuracies and can be likened to a house on sinking sand. Sandra, dear Sandra please don’t go slipping under again! Beyond this, you are also wrong for publishing the most unflattering photo of Ms. Monae. It looks as if she is playing ‘Ispy’ with the photog! How unfortunate. LoL.