Further Proof That Record Labels Are The Most Out Of Touch And Absolute Fucking Worst: Charli XCX Aired Hers Out By Posting The Wild Marketing Ideas They Allegedly Had For Her, Which Included "Leaking A Sex Tape" And "Shoplifting"

Complex - Charli XCX refuses to give in to the marketing ideas that her record label pitched her.

The singer-songwriter took to Instagram this week, where she posted a list "marketing ideas" that she claims were sent to her "last week."

The list consisted of wild ideas including "Charli gets her nipples pierced at Claire's," "Charli Leaks a Sex Tape," and "Winona Moment." For the latter pitch, which references actress Winona Ryder being arrested for shoplifting in 2001, bullet points for the idea read "Charli gets caught shoplifting at a mall and leaks the CCTV footage," and "Position it carefully so we 'steal' from a bran [sic] Charli is planning on collaborating with later on."

XCX also accompanied the post with a TikTok of herself and some famous friends reading the pitches, including Bottoms actress Rachel Sennott.

First off, for you burnouts still living in the stone ages wondering "who the fuck is Charli XCX?", shes's a megastar in the UK, and she's had some very big hits over here as well. Most notably "Boom Clap" which you know immediately if you owned a radio or tv in 2014. Because it was unavoidable.

Now that we've cleared that up, let's address this ridiculous story. Shall we?

In the world of pop music where every Instagram post is a calculated move on the chessboard of fame, Charli XCX just knocked all the pieces off the table. The British singer, known for her electric beats and rebellious spirit, took to Instagram to share a list of… let's call them "creative" marketing ideas pitched by her record label. And by creative, I mean the kind that makes you wonder if Louis CK was offering his opinion and advice in the brainstorming session that produced them.

Imagine being a fly on the wall when Charli's label was brainstorming. Picture this: a room full of suits saying, "You know what would really sell? Charli XCX getting her nipples pierced… at Claire's!" For real. How do these people get paid to call shots and make decisions? 

They didn't just stop at body piercings. The list included a suggestion for Charli to "leak a sex tape" because nothing screams artistic integrity like following in the footsteps of reality TV stars, right? And for the pièce de résistance, a "Winona Moment." Yep, they proposed she get caught shoplifting and leak the CCTV footage. Because nothing says "hit album" like a misdemeanor.

This is just sad. 

And this peek behind the curtain really makes you think how many artists, on how many labels have actually done pre-arranged, planned-out bullshit in order to grab headlines? This just points to a larger conversation about authenticity in an industry often dominated by manufactured personas and publicity stunts. It's refreshing to see an artist not only resist the pressure to conform but also shine a light on how fucked up and hypocritical it is.