🌺

[Monie.🌹 @chillwithmonie]

After looking into the full context of this Cardi B and Mona situation, my stance on colorism hasn't changed. Two things can be true: Cardi is hardworking, deserving of her success, AND can benefit from colorism.

However, knowing this ENTIRE discourse originated because of a TikTok influencer back in 2024 is insane.

It started when Essence covered this influencers birthday trip, prompting him to question why the publication would cover him without offering sponsorship opportunities.

When people criticized his confrontational personality and suggested it affected his marketability, he brought Cardi B into the conversation. Unprovoked!

He described Cardi as "ghetto," "gangster," and "greasy," arguing that she could behave similarly and still secure major brand deals because of her lighter complexion.

Mind you, we're talking about a TikTok influencer comparing himself to an internationally successful, Grammy winning musician.

Naturally, Cardi defended herself, because why the fuck am I in it? This has nothing to do with me. This is between you, your birthday and Essence! On top of the fact this influencer is a stan of that other lady.

Cardi then explained that she's spent her career being ridiculed for her accent, appearance, upbringing, and past as a stripper.

There was an entire back and forth on Twitter, and even Ice Spice chimed in after being mentioned, and got bopped upside her head by Cardi.

Now, fast forward TWO WHOLE YEARS.

An old livestream clip resurfaces in which Cardi actually acknowledges benefiting from colorism but explains that it doesn't erase the discrimination she's faced or the work she's put into her career.

Somehow, Mona saw that clip, responds by going live to challenge Cardi on the very privilege she had already acknowledged.

And that's where my perspective shifted. Not only is this conversation TWO YEARS OLD, but Mona had reportedly been in Cardi's DMs asking for favors before publicly criticizing her. I don't know the full extent of their private conversations, but I can understand why Cardi would question the timing.

Especially when she had already acknowledged Mona's broader point.

And if Mona wanted to discuss colorism, she could've used herself as an example, considering she's also acknowledged benefiting from it.

So yes, I understand why Cardi feels singled out.

She's literally defending herself in that 2024 clip from a stan, who decided to use her as an example, unprovoked because he wasn't getting brand deals and Mona decided to react to it in 2026, telling Cardi she's wrong for feeling like she does.

HUH??? I'm wrong for defending myself???

All in all, my position hasn't changed, but my understanding of her frustration has evolved.

Colorism is real. Darker skinned women have historically faced unequal standards in entertainment, and we absolutely should discuss those disparities.

But Cardi didn't create those inequalities, and acknowledging her advantages shouldn't require dismissing her accomplishments, overlooking the discrimination she's experienced, or repeatedly making her the face of an industry wide problem.

That's not fair to her.

[🌺 @sadejuno]

@DewMeNoFavors @sunsine1473 So what you typed don’t apply to MONA in the first place?

She’s the one who hopped online and the podcast to “correct” Cardi. SHE could have cleared it up offline. Or even RESEARCHED.

Nah, she put it on the podcast all while suggesting she doesn’t deserve her success.

[🌺 @sadejuno]

Cardi been talking about colorism since she stripped too.

Mona just wanted an excuse to diminish Cardi’s success. And those ignoring the reveal of Mona’s error, want to too.

They hate Cardi, her career and artistry, and her success and want a “valid” reason to sht on/hate her.

[KenBarbie™ @itsKenBarbie]

Well, if you actually watched the live (like Mona also should have before taking a cut up version of this TWENTY TWENTY FOUR live) you’d know that’s not what she said at all. And she also acknowledged that colorism definitely exists as a light skinned woman.

[Lanée 👠 @Word2TheWise32]

Making content off an edited video isn't commentary or advice. It's misinformation. Now Cardi's getting dragged off that “misinformation” and suddenly everyone's writing think pieces about whether she earned her success. Some people don't take disrespect lightly, especially when they didn't ask for it. By now y'all should know Cardi is one of them.

[KenBarbie™ @itsKenBarbie]

Well, if you actually watched the live (like Mona also should have before taking a cut up version of this TWENTY TWENTY FOUR live) you’d know that’s not what she said at all. And she also acknowledged that colorism definitely exists as a light skinned woman.

[🌺 @sadejuno]

@BardigangBlocks Agree. That podcast should come back in the next episode to acknowledge the wrong though cause that same audience needs to be corrected

[🌺 @sadejuno]

@Andre_Swagassi @ItsM3_Liyah @winterzera_ She literally said over and over that she thought Cardi said something that paints her in a negative light.

Mona used that to base why she even said something. So she using her platform loud and wrong without research.

[𝕐o̴g̴ @Yoda4ever]

Baby ducks meet puppies for the first time..🐕🐕🐤🐤😍

[beyoncé gifs @beygifz]

i love when she looks like a villain

[kxngcardo @kxngcardo]

Cardi B ate her entire performance at John Hopkins University’s 2026 Hoptoberfest tonight. 😩❤️‍🔥

[Fan Account | #BLM 🫵🏾 @BardiUpdatess]

Cardi B performing “Pretty & Petty” at John Hopkins University’s 2026 Hoptoberfest. 💚

[🌺 @sadejuno]

The fact that one of her “best moments” was lying on Cardi.

Using a 2-year old edited clip with no research before speaking ACTUALLY reveals a LOT of issues with Mona 😂

But this account also been ignoring people pointing out that Mona’s whole argument is based on a false clip

[JBTV Community @JBTVCommunity]

Mona deserves a lot of praise for how well she spoke on the Cardi B topic.

That may have been one of her best moments in a very long time.

[Fan Account | #BLM 🫵🏾 @BardiUpdatess]

Cardi B looking amazing via Instagram stories. 😍😩

[KenBarbie™ @itsKenBarbie]

La Caldi vibing to her track with Daddy Yankee “Cosita”

🔗: https://t.co/EWb5IyYvh8

[໊ @BardisMedia]

Cardi B performing “Magnet” tonight at Johns Hopkins University.🔥

[I Hate Jack Berger @Venusofdetroit]

If you’re Black and corny, they take you out back and shoot you.

[BARDI GANG @777clockit]

Y’all have a weird obsession with trying to humble Cardi B. The woman barely even flexes, and she has every right to. She worked for EVERYTHING she has. This isn’t about skin colour; it’s about sweat, tears and hard work. Remember when y’all said a stripper couldn’t make it out?

[The Cardi Room | FAN ACCOUNT @theecardiroom]

🇺🇸 US Apple Music:

💿 #112 — “AM I THE DRAMA?” (+27)
💿 #176 — “Invasion of Privacy” (+7)

[cardi chart data @cardibchartdata]

🇺🇸 US Apple Music:

#112. "AM I THE DRAMA" (+2)
#176. "Invasion of Privacy" (+7)

[𝑩 𝑨 𝑹 𝑫 𝑰 𝑮 𝑨 𝑵 𝑮 @BardiGangLATAM]

🇺🇸 US Apple Music:

#114. "AM I THE DRAMA" (+24)
#183. "Invasion of Privacy" (+15)