In July 2023, during The Essence Festival in New Orleans, Megan Thee Stallion and Janelle Monae received backlash for a "twerk off" they conducted during their performance on the main stage, with singer-songwriter India Arie being one of the loudest critics. Arie went to social media to share her thoughts, writing: "The issue is what is CONTEXT. Humanity does EVERYTHING. But does EVERYTHING BELONG IN A STAGE. No. Is everything for KIDS? No." Arie's social media posts re-ignited an on-going conversation in the Black community around respectability politics. Throughout the ordeal, Essence Magazine supported both performing artists on its social platforms.
