This is not the first time I have had to come to the defence of pop star Rihanna, nor I am sure will it be the last but I can certainly say this is the most indignant I have felt. Media parasite and daily mail regular Elizabeth Jones has picked up her poison pen once more and turned her venom towards ‘bad girl’ Rihanna. In an unsurprisingly poorly worded article,which read more like the diatribe of a bitter hack rather than a valuable piece if journalism, Liz Jones accused Rihanna of ‘infecting our High Streets with her gun tattoos, her false nails and fake hair, her bogus bad-ass shenanigans’.

This vilification of one woman by another was made even more shocking because Jones went as far as to say Rihanna’s way of dressing on stage ‘surely invites rape at worst, disrespect at least’. When I first read that excerpt the collective gasp of the female population was veritably audible. In saying so, Jones has not just insulted Rihanna but every woman who has invoked her fundamental right as an autonomous human being to expose her body without fear of inciting harassment. In saying so, Jones took us back to the Stone Age where men had the right to claim a woman by throwing her over his shoulder and running off with her. Never-mind women’s rights Liz Jones, if the girl dresses like a whore then she shall be treated as one, regardless of whether she consents or not! I could not believe what Jones was insinuating and could not discern if she wrote it in a moment of madness or to illicit this very response.

In writing her article, Jones also highlighted a fast growing and worrying trend of ‘slut shaming’ amongst women. The phenomenon which has swept over the Internet in the form of memes, spread in particular by self righteous teenage girls, using humorous quotes which are thinly veiled condemnations of women who choose to bare their skin or are sexually active. Although it has been praised by older generations who view it as some sort of virtuous reckoning amongst modern teenagers, I find it far more troubling that young people feel so justified in being so wildly and blindly judgemental. More troubling is that such shaming more often than not takes place and spreads on public social media platforms and appears like a socially acceptable form of Internet bullying. Just recently two girls in Sweden aged 15 and 16 were found guilty of defamation after creating the Instagram page ‘Sluts of Gothenberg’. Quite rightly both girls were ordered to pay a hefty fine to each of their victims along with juvenile detention sentence. Some may think this a disproportionate punishment but when we think that the page these girls created caused a riot to break out in the Swedish city, the severity of their actions becomes clear. We should follow the zero tolerance example of the Swedish justice system because such behaviour is tantamount to slander and inciting hatred.

The crux of Jones’ article, or what I managed to understand by it, was Rihanna’s influence on young girls and how she may be raising a generation of mini me’s. I must stress that if your child is looking at Rihanna as a role model or trying in any way to emulate her, you have failed as a parent. It is your responsibility to give your child enough faculties to be able to see and not do. Your child can appreciate Rihanna’s music without wanting to be her. Your child should know the difference between themselves and a 24 year old woman and understand why what may be appropriate for Rihanna is not appropriate for them. I understand that she does wield some influence but ultimately it is up to those raising the child to guide them in the right direction.

If wisdom comes with age, then Jones who is certainly as old as the hills should lead by example. First and foremost, before we look at Rihanna’s behaviour, we must acknowledge her achievements. Undeniably one if the hardest working women in music, Rihanna has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, embarked on three world tours and exhibited a strong work ethic and continues to reap the rewards. Instead of focusing on that, Jones focuses what she perceives to be Rihanna’s negative qualities, Jones completely glosses over these facts. Although mentioned in her article, she sidelined them to concentrate on Rihanna’s sartorial choices and gyrating dance moves. Nevermind that Rihanna hails from Barbados where such dancing is seen as the norm. Cultural differences anyone?

Since Jones’ article was published, outspoken Rihanna has responded in typical fashion. Perhaps it was not as eloquent a reply as one would have liked but it surely got the point across that Rihanna could not care less. Unapologetic indeed.

Now excuse me whilst I pop out with my false hair, false nails and boobs on show.

Hope I don’t invite some rape today!