Grimes and Sevdaliza, two artists who once collaborated musically on Nothing Lasts Forever, are now at odds in a public debate about gender, violence, and accountability. Their recent exchange has sparked intense discussion, revealing deeper ideological tensions that mirror broader feminist and societal conversations.
The conversation began with Sevdaliza expressing frustration over the way gendered violence is discussed, stating: “I hope this year people wake the fuck up and start holding men accountable for the entirety of all disaster in this world. Men been causing trouble and despair, and everyone else gets blamed and punished for it.” Her statement reflects a growing sentiment that men, historically responsible for war, oppression, and violence, have avoided real accountability.
Grimes responded with a more analytical take, arguing that “men are beasts of war, millions of years of evolution have shaped them into killing machines.” She continued, “Not an excuse, but I think criticizing them without offering solutions makes them more reactive. I’ve realized their empathy meter vs ours is drastically different. I’m not sure how to overcome this.” Her perspective suggests that male aggression is deeply rooted in evolution and that simply condemning men without offering solutions may not lead to progress.
Sevdaliza, however, pushed back against this framing, rejecting the idea that women should have to empathize with male violence. “I just feel like men raping, abusing, and killing women and children for centuries, and we should not feel empathetic or responsible for what could be a solution for their evolutionary biologic wiring,” she wrote. “Men should hold themselves accountable and start by reflecting because women obviously don’t have this genetic wiring.” Her response reflects anger at the expectation that women should help men “fix” their behavior rather than men taking the initiative to change themselves.
This disagreement is particularly compelling given their history of collaboration. Both artists are known for their avant-garde aesthetics and their deep engagement with themes of power, identity, and human evolution. Their past creative alignment makes their ideological split even more striking – while Grimes leans towards a systems-level perspective influenced by science and futurism, Sevdaliza prioritizes immediate justice and personal responsibility.
Their clash mirrors a larger debate in feminist discourse: Should the focus be on understanding the roots of male aggression and finding solutions, or should it be on demanding immediate accountability and change? Grimes and Sevdaliza’s exchange represents these two approaches in stark contrast, forcing their audience to reckon with where they stand on the issue.
Whether this marks a deeper rift between the artists or simply a moment of intellectual divergence remains to be seen. But one thing is certain – both Grimes and Sevdaliza are unafraid to voice their convictions, even if it means challenging not only their audiences but each other.