While celebrities' lives continue to be filled with drama and unnecessary fighting, something can be learned from rapper and TV personality Cardi B's recent announcement about her divorce. After evidence continuously revealed her husband Offset was unfaithful, she finally called quits on the marriage and announced it on Instagram.
Some praised her for the decision, as it was long overdue, but many (mostly men) called for her to take him back because it was "just a little cheating."
As if.
As a huge name in the female rap game, Cardi maintained her public personality of independence and continued on with her life. Offset, on the other hand, became restless and took to social media, pleading with her to take him back.
He made an awkward, fake-emotional video that he wanted to be back with his family. He commented on her posts and Instagram live videos, harassing her and gathering support for his flawed cause. Other popular rappers known for infidelity began to support him, demonizing Cardi B for not taking back her wildly unfaithful husband.
At the Rolling Loud Festival this weekend in Los Angeles, he stepped on stage with rapper 21 Savage to plead to Cardi through the crowd; the crowd chanted "take Offset back" as if he wasn't a habitual cheater.
The height of all the harassment was when Offset interrupted Cardi's set at Rolling Loud with signs that urged her to take him back. He confronted her in front of the world, in front of all her fans, putting her in a tight space with no room for disagreement.
She shamed him in front of the world by telling him no again, but what he did was abusive.
Cornering her in front of the world to elicit a response, as if his problems were not bad, is abusive. Gaslighting her when he was clearly in the wrong is abusive. Rallying the entire world behind countless acts of unfaithfulness when she did nothing wrong is abusive.
Offset's behavior is something every girl can learn from when going into relationships. Men who try to publicly embarrass you into submission are abusive. Men who rally their friends to ask for your forgiveness and demonize you when you refuse to give it are abusive. Men who create opportunities for you to fall back into their unfaithful or abusive habits are who you should stay away from.
I applaud Cardi B for being so strong and setting an example for young women around the world who face abusive men.
All celebrity drama aside, Offset's behavior is a clear example of an abusive man with the mindset of a child and the sensitivity of a rock.
Do better, Offset.
