Dancehall artistes Cham and Mr Vegas pushed back at veteran radio and television broadcaster Fae Ellington’s criticism of the outfit worn by Rihanna to commemorate Barbados becoming a Republic last Tuesday.

In an interview with the Weekend Star, Ellington said “It was most inappropriate,” referring to the singer’s mode of dress. “All her boobs were just jumping up and down in the frock,” she added.

Jamaican singer and songwriter, Cham, formerly Baby Cham, wrote in a comment on Instagram, “Fae Guh Mind Yu Own Business!!! ✌️”.

In an Instagram post, Dancehall veteran Mr Vegas noted that Rihanna’s dress was a “symbol of the African Queen who will no longer bow to the European Queen”. “The dress without sleeves was deliberate. This style of dressing was forbidden in places, such as places of worship, courthouses, etc,” he added. “The color of the dress represents the earth where the African woman comes from, and a testament that everyone came from the black woman.”

“The breast without bra signifies birth (birth of a nation), and we will no longer feed your children. Her hair (locks) represents the serpent (wisdom, electricity, strength),” he continued. “Hold that inna unu face oppressors and black overseers,” he continued.  “All now Jamaica nuh mek Bob Marley national hero because he had too many kids out of wedlock and smoke weed. Yet still, they use him to sell the island to tourists,” he said.

He further stressed that “ the dress without sleeves was deleberate . This style of dressing was forbidden in places, such as places of worship, court houses etc.”

In response to the backlash, Ellington took to Twitter and noted that dissenting views voiced in the social media sphere will not give her reason to cower.

“There are people in the social media space who believe that only their views matter. Dissenting views won’t let me cower,” she said. “By the way, I hear that, starting at midnight, all TV News anchors, programme presenters & reporters will be discarding most of their wardrobe,” she added.