The 29-year-old actress and singer, who signed to Atlantic Records at age 12 and released her debut album ‘So Uncool’ in 2007, then founded her own Big Bosses Entertainment label in 2018, has spoken out about her experiences with sexual harassment in the workplace.
Keke told PEOPLE, in reference to her new album Big Boss, which details some of the difficulties she has encountered, “I think everybody’s going through something similar in whatever their respective job is, or even those of us that are actually also working in the music industry — not even just artists, but producers, writers, or whatever.”
We all know what it’s like to live in an environment rife with sexism, and how difficult it can be to convince others to see your worth and realize that you should move to a place where you are appreciated rather than attempting to force change.
“That’s fantastic if they do. If they don’t, you’ll need to find new digs that promote your mental health and inspiration. I felt compelled to explain that I, too, had experienced this. I’ve been through tough times myself and can say, “Hey, this is how I dealt with it and how I moved on.” In many respects, this is my testimony.
Keke Palmer has urged a similar campaign like the MeToo one in the music business.
Those folks are genuine, and it’s a very real, factual circumstance, where I, as a woman, am either being sexually harassed, intimidated, or made uncomfortable in an environment that is controlled by largely guys. There are also a plethora of more.
She said, “It hasn’t happened in music, and it should.” when asked about the need for a MeToo movement in the music industry.
The entertainment industry is not immune to the prevalence of negative events. Bad things happen in both the acting world and the music industry, but it seems the former more closely resembles a union than the latter. It’s occurring in the world of actors right now, but it won’t last forever.
Eventually, someone will be exposed. There will be an event. One day, we’ll figure things out and agree on something. In the music industry, it often seems like everyone is on the take. As a result, it appears like nothing will ever truly escalate.