If you've been following singer FKA Twigs for over a year, you'll have noticed that throughout this time, she has shared her progress with pole dancing via her Instagram, and incorporated the art into many shows and music videos.
This was most notable just over a month ago, when Twigs released a short film titled 'We Are The Womxn' championing a Black strip club in Atlanta. She came under fire - and has been called out for commodifying spaces that sex workers occupy, without sharing any resources to support sex workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
But she has since posted on Instagram partially addressing the topic, sharing fragments of her own story of past work in the sex work industry, and showing her support and solidarity with the sex work community after appearing as a sex worker in 645AR's new music video “Sum Bout U.”
Twigs statement felt heartfelt and raw when she stated “I feel like now is the time for me to step forward, pay respect, and shine a light on the challenges facing sex workers, especially during these uncertain times,” she said.
“Sex workers I know and have met have discipline, craft, talent and work ethic — not only do they deserve better long-term, but their income has been wiped out by the lockdown and many are invisible to the financial aid available to others.”
View this post on Instagram
"There’s a bigger journey in challenging public attitudes, tackling stigma, and fighting for rights and protections - but today I’m inviting you to join me in helping with cash donations to SWARM, Lysistrata and ELSC.," the singer wrote. Noting that she had made a personal donation of $13,000 to these grassroots organisations, and has a goal to raise an additional $39,000 collectively.
Following this, Twigs handed over her Instagram account to the ELSC (East London Stripper Collective)to uplift multiple organisations and facilities to amplify voices of the SW community to “share important information about sex workers rights.”.
View this post on Instagram
“We will be using this platform to uplift and drive traffic towards other sex worker-led organisations that are doing great work and deserve your attention and support, many are self-funded or without funding whatsoever, so rely entirely on public engagement,” she noted.
View this post on Instagram
Among the list of platforms highlighted, were Harpies Club Night, CYBERTEASE, Radio AvA, Berlin Strippers Collective, English Collective of Prostitutes, Black Sex Workers Collective, Umbrella Lane, JuiceBox Events, and National Ugly Mugs.
View this post on Instagram
Image credit: @fkatwigs
