DUBAI: This week, Jameela Jamil took to social media to slam critics questioning her production credits on British musician James Blake’s fifth studio album, “Friends That Break Your Heart.”
The Indian-Pakistani-British actress and activist, who is in a relationship with Blake, has production credits on nine of the 12 tracks on the album, including singles “Say What You Will” and “Famous Last Words.”
Wowwww he looks so good in Times Square!!! The privilege of my life was getting to work on this record. It was quite a journey and this man bled his whole soul into this record for you. I hope the people who lost friendships find it healing. BRAVO @jamesblake YOU FREAK OF NATURE! pic.twitter.com/ndiElPJwO3
— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) October 8, 2021
“The privilege of my life was getting to work on this record,” Jamil tweeted following the album’s release. “It was quite a journey and this man bled his whole soul into this record for you. I hope the people who lost friendships find it healing. BRAVO @jamesblake.”
However, many social media users were quick to take to the platform to express their disbelief over the “She-Hulk” star’s involvement in the album’s production.
“A lot of mostly women insisting I couldn’t possibly have actually worked on my boyfriend’s music, and that he must have just credited me to be nice…” tweeted Jamil in response. “I was a DJ for eight years, and studied music for six years before that. You are part of the problem of why women don’t pursue producing,” she added, shutting down the critics.
She followed up her statement on Instagram, writing: “Man, James had to fight me to take credit on this album because I was so preemptively sick of the internet.
“An additional hilarious side to this misogyny is that they only don’t believe in my musical input when they love the songs. If they don’t like a song then suddenly I CAN produce and it’s all my fault, and I produced the whole thing alone!”
Jamil continued: “I hope you’re taking credit for your work wherever you are in the world right now. I hope you know that if you’re not being believed over your achievements, that it’s not a reflection of you – it’s a reflection of people who are so underachieving, cowardly and insecure that they can’t fathom that you could be impressive.
“It happens at every level in every industry. Even to me. Even when I don’t credit myself, my boyfriend just quietly credited me. We are in this… together. Representation matters. It is not our responsibility to be believed, liked, understood or approved of.”