The Brief: The release of the song "WAP" by Cardi B, featuring Megan Thee Stallion, and its accompanying video inspired a slew of online reactions and memes.
DEEP DIVE
WAP + Music Video Memes
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” song and music video dropped on August 6, immediately inspiring memes and some online controversy. The song is unapologetically explicit and the music video features elaborate costumes, naked statue fountains, tigers having sex, snakes, and cameos from iconic women musicians Normani, Rosalia, Rubi Rose, Sukihana, and Mulatto. While some people made comments about being offended by WAP for its overtly sexual references, many others expressed their joy at seeing Black women own their sexuality.
On Friday, August 7, the WAP music video was featured as the #1 trending video on YouTube and several topics related to it were trending on Twitter.
With this #WAP video, it’s almost like women don’t care about men’s opinions pic.twitter.com/B4DIjOMaIN
— Sasha thee Culturalist (@TheeCulturalist) August 7, 2020
Me after watching the WAP video. pic.twitter.com/354aI2kBAY
— Hottie. (@ms_ude) August 7, 2020
Can you imagine hearing WAP after 5 mimosas?
— Gina Payne (@SHEisLaMour) August 7, 2020
— c (@chuuzus) August 7, 2020
Thank you sooo much https://t.co/VE0868mUWg
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) August 7, 2020
Stretching the limits of how many times I can watch the WAP video this morning pic.twitter.com/R1n0eFIRnR
— Alanna 🥴 (@AlannaBennett) August 7, 2020
My girl to me after she listened #WAP once… pic.twitter.com/zNFYz2CuMK
— The Black Supreme Kai (@BlackSupremeKai) August 7, 2020
When I saw Megan Thee Stallion hit that split #WAP pic.twitter.com/1fKAamdoYQ
— 🍊💵 (@MrGoodBeard__) August 7, 2020
What Does WAP Stand For?
WAP is an acronym for “wet a*s p*ssy,” and some memes suggest alternate meanings that could be used to spare grandmas from knowing the true meaning, or to add an overtly political twist to the song.
Worship and Praise
— Janelle James (@janellejcomic) August 7, 2020
WAP= We Abolish Prisons https://t.co/LhNH0rKeLr
— Small Crimes (@JasMoneyRecords) August 7, 2020
having a WAP and wetty is actually a lifestyle. more than the physical ushi gushiness of the reproductive parts and if you guys would open your minds. you'd see beyond the physical. a lot of you not woke enough to hear that song properly!
— ushi gushi UK (@duchyofleo) August 7, 2020
WAP = Women Against Patriarchy
— ushi gushi UK (@duchyofleo) August 7, 2020
Kylie Jenner Cameo
Many WAP memes revolve around Kylie Jenner’s cameo in the middle of the video which features her walking down a hall in a leopard print outfit, opening a door, and looking back dramatically. Her appearance was immediately met with backlash from people asking why Kylie, a white woman, and non-musician who has a documented record of cultural appropriation and blackfishing, would have such a prominent role in a music video centered around Black women rappers.
WAP pic.twitter.com/ZvhkweczxS
— rrrubencito ☁️ (@sortarican__) August 7, 2020
Where Kylie went after she opened the door in Cardi and Meg's #WAP video. pic.twitter.com/XRcVWBD96m
— The Excelllence (@TheExcelllence) August 7, 2020
How Kylie showed up in #WAP pic.twitter.com/EdLPAv74Pq
— Lynx 💛 (@LustrousLynx) August 7, 2020
My reaction when they cut the music for Kylie to walk 🙄 #WAPMusicVideo pic.twitter.com/ByZl9uebJc
— Kaelastic Vibes🧚🏽♂️🖤 (@KaelasticVibes) August 7, 2020
It was perfect but then pic.twitter.com/gh2Sk0e1lf
— quinta brunson (@quintabrunson) August 7, 2020
Oh not Kylie pic.twitter.com/PquFZ3Mgh6
— paul (@dearapriII) August 7, 2020
Yes, this is a real Change.org petition that now has over 10,000 signatures…
y’all are so alskadjsjdjajsjakdnsndamdmamsnamdma pic.twitter.com/6R1lgVTfaL
— Da’Shaun (@DaShaunLH) August 7, 2020
was supposed to be Rihanna walk down that hallway not Kylie #WAP pic.twitter.com/HTcQbl57bp
— Wray✨ (@RachealBakunzi) August 7, 2020
Y’all really got me thinking about how hard Lil Kim would’ve served coming down that hallway in WAP music video pic.twitter.com/UO3miMYTQn
— 𝔨𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯. (@lilkimeme) August 7, 2020