Cardi B Faces Backlash Over Fat-Shaming Comments and Clash With Black TikToker

Cardi B is no stranger to controversy, but her latest livestream has fans questioning whether she’s finally gone too far. Just days ago, the Bronx rapper went live on Instagram and made a joke about her 3XL merch selling out quickly, quipping:

“You fat f**ks… 3XL sold out in like 20 minutes. You talk about my body, I’ll talk about yours.”

She brushed it off as banter, but the internet didn’t find it funny. Within hours, clips of the livestream went viral, with critics calling her out for fat-shaming her own fans—the very people who keep her brand alive.

The TikTok Call-Out: Size Inclusivity Matters

The backlash escalated when Samyra, a Black TikToker and size-inclusivity advocate, posted a response video. She broke it down plainly:

“No, people shouldn’t make fun of your BBL. But also no, you shouldn’t be making fun of fat people.”

Samyra’s video hit a nerve, amplifying a conversation that’s been simmering around Cardi for years—how she responds to criticism, how she speaks about marginalized groups, and whether she crosses the line between clapback and cruelty.

Instead of taking the criticism in stride, Cardi doubled down. In a follow-up post, she refused to apologize:

“What do you want me to do, get on my f***ing knees and apologize? I don’t care, I’m not apologizing.”

That response only added fuel to the fire, leaving fans debating whether Cardi is dismissing valid concerns from the very community that built her up.

Why This Feels Different

Cardi B’s entire career has been built on being unfiltered, unapologetic, and real. That rawness is part of her appeal. But in 2025, audiences are less tolerant of humor that punches down, especially around issues like body size, colorism, and respectability.

This latest incident feels different because it’s not just about a joke—it’s about pattern.

• Colorism accusations: Critics often point to old tweets where Cardi referred to darker-skinned women as “roaches.” Those resurfaced during this controversy, reigniting conversations about her history of comments that many felt disrespected Black women.

• Dismissive responses: Cardi has a reputation for doubling down when criticized. Instead of listening, she often frames pushback as “haters” being too sensitive.

• Fans feeling betrayed: When the punchline is literally the body size of your own supporters—the ones buying the 3XL merch—it feels less like a joke and more like a slap in the face.

The Bigger Conversation: Humor vs. Harm

What’s happening with Cardi B isn’t just about her livestream. It taps into a much larger cultural conversation about where the line is between keeping it real and being harmful.

Fat-shaming, even as a joke, has been proven to have serious impacts on mental health. According to a 2023 study published in the Journal of Health Psychology, people who experience weight-based discrimination are 2.5 times more likely to develop depression and 3 times more likely to engage in disordered eating.

So when celebrities with massive platforms use size as a punchline, it doesn’t just sting in the moment—it reinforces harmful stereotypes that ripple across society.

And for Black women in particular, this lands even heavier. The Black community already deals with harmful stereotypes around body size, desirability, and worth. So when Cardi—Afro-Latina herself—aims jokes that seem to minimize or mock, the wounds cut deeper.

The Clash With TikTok Creators

This isn’t the first time Cardi has butted heads with TikTokers. Over the past year, she’s clapped back at multiple Black creators who criticized her music, her persona, or her takes on pop culture. The pattern leaves some fans saying:

“She never argues with white creators or other groups like this. It’s always Black women.”

That perception—fair or not—is what’s fueling the narrative that Cardi B “doesn’t like Black women.” Whether that’s true or simply a reflection of which criticisms she responds to, the damage is the same: many feel unseen, unheard, and disrespected.

Can Cardi B Recover?

The irony is that Cardi has also had powerful moments where she stood up for Black women—like when she publicly defended Black women being excluded from a club, or when she defended South African artist Tyla from online hate.

That’s what makes this all so messy: Cardi is not an enemy of Black women, but her words and reactions sometimes make it hard for people to feel like she’s truly on their side.

To recover, Cardi will likely need to do what she’s least comfortable with: listen, reflect, and apologize without sarcasm. Until then, the conversation around her “disrespect” isn’t going anywhere.

Cardi B has built a career off authenticity, but authenticity doesn’t excuse harm. The fat-shaming livestream and her refusal to acknowledge the hurt caused are just the latest reminders that words carry weight—especially when you’re one of the most influential artists in the world.

Whether she takes accountability or not, this incident adds to a growing narrative that fans—especially Black women—are tired of feeling disrespected. And in 2025, when conversations about inclusivity and representation are louder than ever, dismissing those concerns is a dangerous game.