The Liam Payne song Both Ways has been criticised for playing into harmful stereotypes about bi women. It’s not the first time pop has caused offence
‘My girl, she likes it both ways,” sings Liam Payne, in Both Ways, a song about bisexuality from his recent new album, LP1. Listeners have quickly taken offence at the track, which describes a woman “switching the lanes like a Bugatti Sport” and having group sex.
“I read the lyrics first then tried to listen to the song but couldn’t finish it,” says Meg Murphy, of Bi-Pride, a campaign group for bisexual rights and visibility. “It felt incredibly fetishising. It reinforces the idea that bi women are there for men’s titillation.”