Strictly Come Dancing contestant Clara Amfo has thrown her support behind Biffy Clyro after they recorded a cover of controversial hit WAP.
The song – originally released by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion – has caused a stir ever since it was released due to its sexually explicit lyrics and steamy music video.
Biffy Clyro played homage to the song when they appeared on BBC One’s live lounge on Thursday by performing their own version.
The male trio put their own spin on WAP by switching the title to WAB, standing for Wet As Biffy.
Following the performance singer Simon Neil said: “It was such a lot of fun, we had such a good time doing it. We do have respect. We’re not having a laugh. We love the song, it’s just our take on it.”
After the song played on the airwaves it was met with some negative opinions online.
A number of Twitter users fumed that the band ‘hijacked’ the song and that it was not meant to be sung by white men.
One angry music fan typed: “missing the point that a song by two Black women that talks about sex on THEIR terms and not a man’s (this is uncommon in songs that top charts and are as ubiquitous as ‘WAP’) has been hijacked by some white men who have completely missed the point.”
Others added: “I honestly cannot stop thinking about Biffy Clyro doing WAP and how intensly men need to learn to stay in their own lane” and “That Biffy Clyro cover of WAP irked me so much I had to go for a nap. I just woke up and I’m somehow more vexed than before.”
And in response to the online hate, Clara – who is a host on BBC Radio One and gearing up for a stint on strictly- used her online platform to defend Biffy Clyro’s decision to sing their own take on the song.
She typed: “Sometimes things are just fun and not thaaaaaaat deep. Not everyday discourse and snark huns and I very much include my own attitude too. *sips flat water*.”
WAP has made headlines since its release.
Some have applauded the song for talking openly about women enjoying and wanting sex – something that male rappers have sung about for years without criticism – and others have slammed the sexually charged lyrics and racy music video for objectifying females.
Due to the songs explicit lyrics radio shows have been forced to put a number of censor bleeps in to mask the rude words.