Cardi B on the pressure to be a role model: “I been watching what I say and I haven’t been myself”

Rapper Cardi B recently took to Twitter to open up about the pressures of being seen as a role model, after a Twitter user shared she didn't agree with the "messages" the rapper sends young girls, despite being a fan.

"So many of us look at you as a role model and that should send a very loud message," tweeted activist Kenidra Woods. Cardi responded by opening up about the pressures of being seen as a role model, admitting she feels trapped into portraying a toned down version of her true self. "For these past two years I been watching what I say and I haven’t been myself. I been feeling trap [sic] and sad cause it’s not ME but everybody tell me to be it for me to be this 'role model'," she responded.

Despite her shift from the no holds barred dancer who found initial fame on Instagram to a bonafide rap star, Cardi says her past is still routinely used against her. "People still spit my past right in my face so for now imma be my old self again," she said.

Cardi B has always been forthcoming about discussing and adding context to her past, recently addressing the backlash over three-year-old footage of the rapper talking about drugging and robbing men as a means of survival. "I never claim to be perfect or come from a perfect world with a perfect past I always speak my truth I always own my shit," she said in a statement on Instagram.