Annie Lennox on Beyoncé: 'She's using being a feminist to promote herself'

Eurythmics frontwoman Annie Lennox has revealed that she doesn't like the way artists such as Beyoncé describe themselves as feminists because it cheapens the meaning and what it represents.

In a new interview with PrideSource, she was asked to give her opinion on Beyoncé after the 'Halo' sensation branded herself a feminist during her recent performance at the MTV VMAs and she explained that she believes Beyoncé is using that term for self-promotion:

"I would call that “feminist lite.” L-I-T-E. I’m sorry. It’s tokenistic to me. I mean, I think she’s a phenomenal artist — I just love her performances — but I’d like to sit down (with her). I think I’d like to sit down with quite a few artists and talk to them. I’d like to listen to them; I’d like to hear what they truly think."

"I see a lot of it as them taking the word hostage and using it to promote themselves, but I don’t think they necessarily represent wholeheartedly the depths of feminism — no, I don’t. I think for many it’s very convenient and it looks great and it looks radical, but I have some issues with it. I have issues with it. Of course I do. I think it’s a cheap shot."

Lennox went onto add that there's something 'cheap' about using the identity of being a feminist to try and sell records: "I think what they do with it is cheap and… yeah. What can I tell you? Sex always sells. And there’s nothing wrong with sex selling, but it depends on your audience. If they’re 7-year-old kids, I have issues with it."

Watch Lennox's new album trailer below: