Will Young has slammed Rihanna for not being a good enough role model for women.

Speaking to omg!, Young praised the singer for her talent but criticised her for her raunchy lyrics, lamenting them for not being "empowering". He said:

"I don't think Rihanna is a massively great role model for women, her lyrics aren't empowering. She's a brilliant pop star and recording artist but her lyrics are not empowering - young girls have to listen to those lyrics."

He continued by mentioning Rihanna kissing another female in the video for her track 'S&M'. He said:

"I saw Rihanna kissing a girl in one of her videos [S&M] and I thought who is this for? If you're going to do it just go the whole way like Madonna did and have sex on a bed. Women in a patriarchal society should be empowering and owning their bodies, I don't think Rihanna is. I feel quite strongly about this. I'm more interested in female in pop stars that are empowering for women as a feminist myself."

He then referenced the likes of Lady Gaga and Annie Lennox as people who are empowering and who have "challenged the female form". He said:

"You can sexualize yourself in an empowering way. Adele doesn't sexualize herself yet she's very open about her heartache. Image wise Lady Gaga is empowering. I'm more interested in women like Annie Lennox of Grace Jones, people who have challenged the female form who have owned it and brought it forward."