Given the misogynistic content of some of his work, most would not pick him out as particularly sensitive to the plight of women; Pharrell Williams has demonstrated support for Sweden’s minority Feminist Initiative Party by inviting leader Gundrun Schyman on stage during a Stockholm concert.
A day before Sweden’s parliamentary elections, Pharrell called out to the Stockholm Globe Arena crowd optimistically: “I hear you guys might have a feminist party tomorrow” before inviting Ms Schyman onto the stage for his performance of worldwide smash ‘Happy’.
Pharrell again yelled to the crowd, “Somehow I feel that with you in position we won’t have to worry so much about terrorism any more. You guys make life not take life.”
The 66-year-old politician, who attracted some criticism in Sweden for the decision, defended herself, saying: “It is not as if we support the songs he does. It was instead he who wanted to support us, and that I thought was very nice.” The Feminist Initiative Party ultimately managed to elicit 3.1 percent of the vote.
Williams has always received criticism for his sexually degrading lyrics towards women. His collaboration with Robin Thicke and T.I., the worldwide hit single ‘Blurred Lines’, was banned in British universities for its misogynist lyrics and alleged glorification of date rape. YouTube also decided to ban the video because it contained nudity.
