Doja Cat is getting real about dealing with strangers’ expectations of her as a celebrity.
In an interview with rap radio legend Angie Martinez for Harper’s Bazaar’s September 2023 cover story, the Grammy-winning musician talks about what it means to navigate life in the public spotlight.
When asked if she sees herself as worthy of being considered an “icon,” Doja says, “I don’t. I think I deserve love and respect from the people that I love and respect back—and I guess respect means different things to some people. I put myself out here on social media and TV. I shoot my image out onto these screens. But I don’t really put myself out there in real life. I don’t go to clubs. I stick to creating.”
She adds that she feels appreciation toward fans who contribute to “positive feedback.”
“I appreciate when people speak up for someone who is getting bullied or attacked by internet trolls,” she explains. “Some of the most moving moments for me have been when my fans have stood up for me or for other people. That’s fighting for something real. I really appreciate that because people like to shit-talk.”
Doja is no stranger to testing the boundaries of her art, whether in her music or her appearance. In May, she used prosthetics to transform into a couture cat for the 2023 Met Gala. She also surprised fans by shaving off her hair and eyebrows on Instagram Live last August.
“Why do you think people go crazy when you do things like shave your head or eyebrows?” Martinez asks.
“My theory is that if someone has never met me in real life, then, subconsciously, I’m not real to them,” Doja says. “So when people become engaged with someone they don’t even know on the internet, they kind of take ownership over that person. They think that person belongs to them in some sense. And when that person changes drastically, there is a shock response that is almost uncontrollable. … I’ve accepted that that’s what happens. So put my wigs on and take them off. I shave my head or my eyebrows. I have all the freedom in the world.”
Mike Coppola//Getty ImagesDoja Cat at the 2023 Met Gala
Last month, Doja raised questions about what celebrities owe fans who have a parasocial relationship, or a one-sided emotional connection, with a public figure. After she told her fan base (who call themselves “Kittenz”) to “get a job” and “rethink everything,” some of them deactivated their fan accounts and demanded an apology from the rapper. She also reportedly denied a request to tell fans that she loved them, replying instead, “I don’t though because I don’t even know y’all.”
As an associate editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Chelsey keeps a finger on the pulse on all things celeb news. She also writes on social movements, connecting with activists leading the fight on workers' rights, climate justice, and more. Offline, she’s probably spending too much time on TikTok, rewatching Emma (the 2020 version, of course), or buying yet another corset.
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