By Katy Perry, Kesha and Eminem have been called out on social media for including references to serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in their songs, following the release of Netflix’s Monster Dahmer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story stars Evan Peters as the murderer and explores the 13 years he spent committing the crimes before his arrest in 1990. The series has also reignited interest in previous pop-culture references to Dahmer, who was responsible for the murders of 17 men and boys.
In Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ featuring rapper Juicy J, Dahmer’s name is included in one of the lyrics. Juicy J sings: “She eats your heart out like Jeffrey Dahmer”.
One user wrote: “Why isn’t anyone calling out Katy Perry for allowing such a vile & terrible lyric to be included in one of her hit songs? Jeffrey was a notorious serial killer & Katy CHOSE to romanticise his criminal & inhumane actions. I actually feel sick to my stomach. She NEEDS to apologise.”
Fans have also been threatening to delete Kesha’s 2010 track Cannibal.
In the song, Kesha sings: “Your little heart goes pitter-patter, I want your liver on a platter. Be too sweet and you’ll be a goner, yeah, I’ll pull a Jeffrey Dahmer.”
Eminem has also included references to Dahmer in three of his songs. He includes the lyrics “Cause I’d probably be Dahmer” in his song ‘Brainless’. He also made numerous references to Dahmer in songs titled ‘Must Be The Ganja’ and ‘Bagpipes From Bagdad’.
Many music fans took to social media to express their disgust with the references, believing it’s ‘insensitive’ and ‘disgusting’ to Dahmer’s victims and felt the artists should be held to account.
“I just learned who Jeffrey Dahmer is and I knew his name was familiar because Kesha put his name in her lyrics for her song ‘Cannibal’. I need to delete that song now. Why the heck do we give fandom to these sickos?! Of course Netflix makes a series about it.”
Others pointed out that the situation might be overblown
“Are Twitter people really trying to cancel Katy Perry and Kesha for mentioning Jeffrey Dahmer on their songs almost 10 years after they were released?” wrote a user.
Image: People and TIME
