Actress and singer Keke Palmer is calling for the #MeToo movement to extend to the music industry, saying “everybody’s a crooked cop” when it comes to the treatment of women in the music business.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Palmer shared her thoughts on the lack of progress made in the music industry since the #MeToo movement began in 2017. She noted that while the film and television industries have made strides towards ending the culture of abuse and harassment, the music industry has not.
“Everybody’s a crooked cop in this music industry,” Palmer said. “That’s the only way I can put it. It is deeply ingrained, the way they make you feel like you need them and like they’re doing you a favor.”
Palmer went on to say that she has experienced her fair share of mistreatment in the music industry, including pressure to conform to certain standards and feeling like she had to accept inappropriate behavior in order to advance her career.
“I’ve been in situations where people have tried to make me feel like I owe them something or I have to do something for them,” she said. “It’s so ingrained in the culture.”
Palmer’s comments come as the music industry faces renewed scrutiny over its treatment of women and people of color. In recent years, several high-profile musicians and industry executives have been accused of sexual misconduct and abuse, including R. Kelly, Russell Simmons, and Dr. Luke.
Despite the increased attention on these issues, Palmer believes that the music industry still has a long way to go in terms of creating a safe and equitable work environment.
“I think we need to have more people come forward and be supported when they do,” she said. “We need to have conversations about what the power dynamics are and how they’re being abused.”
Palmer also expressed her hope that the #MeToo movement would continue to evolve and adapt to new industries and situations, saying that it was important to keep the conversation going.
“I think we need to continue to have these conversations and educate ourselves,” she said. “It’s not just about one industry, it’s about all industries, and it’s about how we treat each other as human beings.”