Cardi B has addressed claims that her lighter complexion and Dominican heritage helped drive her success, while stressing that colorism is real. In a statement posted to X on Monday, Nov. 2, the rapper said her skin tone was not the only reason she became successful and defended her account of her early career.

The exchange followed comments by podcaster Damona “Mona” LOVE of Don’t Call Me White Girl, who argued that Cardi’s complexion and heritage gave her an advantage in entertainment, including access to brand deals. Love also said a similarly talented dark-skinned artist would not have reached the same level of success.

Love’s remarks referred to a short clip from a 2024 Instagram Live in which Cardi discussed her heritage, colorism and public perception with influencer Raymonte Cole. Love later explained her position on an Oct. 31 episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, saying she believed Cardi’s opportunities were partly linked to her being light-skinned and having Dominican, Puerto Rican or mixed heritage.

In her response, Cardi recalled being judged for her appearance when she was starting out, including her teeth, acne and braids. She said she was not the traditional beauty standard record labels sought and that her skin tone was not enough to convince people she could become a star. “Everybody said no,” she wrote, adding that she had to work hard to get where she is.

Cardi rose to prominence with “Bodak Yellow,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2017. Her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, debuted atop the Billboard 200 and won the Grammy for best rap album. She has since earned four more Hot 100 No. 1 hits, including “I Like It,” “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion and “Up.”

The rapper also said she has had to repeatedly show that she is more than how she speaks, looks or the color of her skin. She argued that acknowledging prejudice in the system should not diminish her accomplishments or personal experience.

Cardi questioned why Love had discussed the old livestream publicly rather than asking her about it directly, saying the two had previously spoken about personal matters, surgery and career opportunities. Cardi also accused Love of using her success to deflect criticism over comments about Tia Kemp, a social media personality who has moved into stand-up comedy. Love’s remarks and Cardi’s response center on whether colorism contributed to the rapper’s opportunities and how that should be weighed against her talent and work.

Sources: Billboard.