Cardi B recently told i-D magazine that it was "kind of weird" shooting her newmusic video for "WAP" withMegan Thee Stallion during the pandemic.- "Like, we had to spend $100,000 dollars just on testing. Everybody on the shoot had to get tested for
coronavirus ," she said. - Cardi added: "We had a tiger and a leopard there, but we didn't film with them in there because of safety and because of the pandemic. We spliced those scenes together."
- Some big cats, including at least one tiger, have tested positive for the coronavirus.
- The rapper also brushed off criticism from a controversial "Tiger King" star that she's encouraging animal cruelty: "I'm not gonna engage with Carole Baskin on that. Like, that's just ridiculous you know? Oh, Lord."
Cardi B recently revealed some behind-the-scenes details about her sensational new
The rapper's collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, which stands for "Wet A-- P----," was unleashed on Friday. The blockbuster visual — which features cameos from stars like Kylie Jenner, Rosalía, and Normani — is one of the first such visuals to be filmed and released during the pandemic.
"It was kind of weird shooting the video in the age of corona," Cardi told i-D magazine's Roisin Lanigan. "Like, we had to spend $100,000 dollars just on testing. Everybody on the shoot had to get tested for coronavirus."
Indeed, celebrities and the ultrawealthy appear to have better access to tests for the novel coronavirus than ordinary Americans. However, according to healthcare experts, getting tested before working alongside other people is the safest and most responsible way to prevent spreading the disease.
Cardi added: "We had a tiger and a leopard there, but we didn't film with them in there because of safety and because of the pandemic. We spliced those scenes together."
It's true that some big cats, including at least one tiger, have tested positive for the coronavirus, though it's unclear whether they show symptoms.
As i-D notes, the steps taken to film the music video safely have certainly paid off; the song is pacing to debut in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, and the video broke the YouTube record for most views in 24 hours by an all-female collab.
The raunchy lyrics, paired with the duo's provocative outfits and dance moves, sparked a massive response — both positive and negative.
"I've been really surprised by the reaction, honestly," Cardi told i-D. "I knew it was gonna have a big impact, I guess, because of me and Megan. But I didn't know it was going to be so controversial."
"I never expected that, you know, conservatives and Republicans were going to be talking about the song. I didn't think the song was as vulgar as they said it was, you know? Like, I'm so used to it. I'm such a freak that I didn't think it would be a big deal."
Cardi clarified that she's not "angry," but rather "happy" about the backlash, because "the numbers speak for themselves."
She even brushed off criticism from a controversial "Tiger King" star that by including big cats in the video, she's encouraging animal cruelty.
"I'm not gonna engage with Carole Baskin on that," Cardi said. "Like, that's just ridiculous you know? Oh, Lord. Like, girl you killed your goddamn husband." Baskin has previously refuted such allegations.
Read the rapper's full interview with i-D here.
- Read more:
- Cardi B said that she was nervous to meet Megan Thee Stallion before collaborating on 'WAP'
- Cardi B defends Kylie Jenner's cameo in the 'WAP' music video after fans sign petition to remove her
- Cardi B mocked conservative pundit Ben Shapiro after he condemned explicit 'WAP' lyrics
- Doctors are firing back at critics of 'WAP,' saying it's healthy for people to have lubricated genitals