Recording artist Tanya Stephens is today facing massive backlash following comments she made about former prime minister Portia Simpson Miller.
Writing on social media, Stephens said that, “Hearing people lament Portia’s departure is like seeing people congratulate my rapist for being a ‘good man’ … she isn’t a good person.”
“Besides unqualified AND an embarrassing representation who wasn’t even of average intelligence as per her public displays, she was also an awful apathetic human who perfected the art of pandering to the hypocrisy of Jamaicans. I’m happy to see her back. I’m not alone. Good riddance.”
However, stung by the singer’s sharp barbs, Simpson Miller’s supporters went into action.
PNP Vice President Angela Brown Burke was shocked.
“Tanya, really now? That’s what you’ve chosen to say about another woman who has inspired so many others? SMDH”.
And Venesha Phillips, a PNP councilor, felt Stephens should be ignored.
“Angela please delete this post. Let us not give airplay to the useless. To recognize that dead will give life to her so let her remain in her grave.”
After 40 years in representational politics, 35 of which she spent as Member of Parliament for South West St Andrew and six as Prime Minister of Jamaica, Simpson Miller resigned on Thursday, June 30.
The departure of the populist leader has reignited discussions about her effectiveness as a leader.
But Stephen’s post, which has since been deleted, has also fired up Simpson Miller’s loyalists.
Members of the Facebook group, Fair and Balanced Jamaica, have taken aim at the artist, and have been saying some unflattering things about her. One user, Vinnette Amoy Wilson, said Stephens “needs to go and get help with her damage and hurt feelings and stop being so bitter with everyone.”
Suzette Parks, another Facebook user, acknowledged that Stephens has the right to her opinion.
“I love her as an artist, but I think she cross the line because even though I didn’t want her to be my PM, I love and respect her as a woman who let all woman know they can make it in this society that think only men can get the job done. Portia has fought and worked hard to make her name in society and I salute her,” Parks said.
“I love Mama P to me heart, but I didn’t want her to be my PM so I did what I had to do. We must speak through our votes not to degrade anyone. Tanya mi love you bad and a labor mi seh, but you need to apologize to this woman. She is true icon. Big up yuhself mama P. Tanya you a mi G. Love you still, nah change,” Parks wrote.
Kamla Forbesz, another Portia loyalist, said she will not attack Tanya Stephens.
“You can only do better if you know better, and clearly she doesn’t know better,” Forbesz wrote.
“We have a culture in Jamaica where women tear each other down. Instead of lift them up, we envy each other. Tanya Stephens is an unfortunate product of our society where women feel they have to tear each other down to get ahead. And comrades stop being hypocritical because nuff a unnu same one hate Portia and orchestrated her demise. You orchestrated the demise of Lisa Hanna too. Until as a people we learn to respect the work of our women in society, expect a few more Tanya Stephens to pop up,” Forbesz added.
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