Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s performance of “WAP” at the Grammy Awards on March 14 has ignited a firestorm of controversy. Critics, including the US National Center on Sexual Exploitation, slammed the organizers and CBS for broadcasting a performance that they say romanticized striptease and prostitution in front of a global audience, including children.

The performance, featuring explicit lyrics and provocative dance moves on a stage shaped like a bed, drew comparisons to a “strip club” by commentators on Fox News. Host Tucker Carlson aired the performance multiple times, accusing Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion of intentionally humiliating culture and harming children.

This isn’t the first time Cardi B has faced criticism for her performances. Conservative activist Candace Owens previously slammed her for promoting sexual imagery and behavior on stage, calling her Grammy performance “pathetic” and lamenting the influence it has on young girls.

Despite the backlash, neither the Grammy organizers nor CBS have responded to the criticism, leaving many to question the boundaries of artistic expression and the impact it has on society, particularly on impressionable audiences.