Yesterday, it was reported that Cardi B had filed paperwork to trademark her signature phrase, “okurrr,” for merchandising purposes. Since that news broke, people online have criticized the move, and now Cardi has responded to the backlash. In a video post, which Cardi has since deleted but has been re-uploaded by others, she fired back at those people by talking about all the times people have asked her to say her famous catchphrase and how connected to her it has become. She insisted that she deserves to profit from it because “white folks do it all the motherf*cking time,” and in 2019, there are “a lot of ways to get rich”:
“So you hoes is mad because I trademarked ‘Okurrr?’ […] You think I ain’t gonna profit off this sh*t? B*tch white folks do it all the motherf*cking time! So you’re gonna be mad at me because I want to get some motherf*cking money? Let me tell you something: While I’m still here, I’m gonna secure all the f*cking bags. Let me tell y’all a secret too: it’s 2019, bitches, it’s a lot of ways to get rich.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvUXujvhoF5/
A main criticism at Cardi’s trademark is that the word existed before Cardi began using it. For example, Urban Dictionary defines the term, “Originated from drag culture and popularized by RuPaul’s Drag Race, and then by Keeping Up With The Kardashians.”
Hold up! I LOVE her, but…. Cardi B did not invent Okurrr!!! https://t.co/CC449WW8zW
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) March 21, 2019
First of all, “Okurrr” was created by the LGBT community, before Cardi B’s music career took off. Yeah, her phrases are catchy, but she shouldn’t have to trademark.
And as for that word, don’t say it if you can’t roll your R’s pic.twitter.com/2YKbyC00Wi— James Cole (@JaCole001) March 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/svpermodel/status/1108959842448760832
I heard that "Okurrr" WAY before Cardi B. ever did it! Laganja Estranja did it and Rupaul actually taught it to Stephen Colbert! That's just not cool, Cardi!
— Donna Porter (@dlee195) March 22, 2019
Laganja Estranja, the former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant who is widely credited with initially popularizing the term, weighed in on the situation yesterday, writing in a tweet that Cardi “is one smart business woman!”
Poor Ganja! Always a bridesmaid never a bride 😂🙌🏻 @iamcardib is one smart business woman! https://t.co/tCEoR9c75k
— Laganja Estranja 🏳️⚧️ (@LaganjaEstranja) March 21, 2019
It’s been a big day in Cardi-related news: Offset talked about his infamous on-stage apology to her on Ellen, and Fran Drescher revealed that a Cardi B-featuring reboot of The Nanny probably won’t be happening anytime soon, although she’s still keen on the idea.
Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. .
