Why is everyone so mad at Rupi Kaur?

The New Republic named Rupi Kaur writer of the decade. While some people were supportive of this, many people across social media were a bit put off. OK, some people were actually pissed off.

But I don’t get it. If a fellow writer, a poet at that, has made herself popular enough to be placed into that category, shouldn’t we be celebrating? All of us know the struggle to be heard. Well Rupi has been heard by millions of readers around the world. We should be proud.

Scanning through the comments, it seems like the simplicity of her poems is what’s causing the backlash. That somehow the depth of her words aren’t nuanced enough to be considered “real” poetry.

I hope that’s not what we’re doing, guys. If someone is touched by her words, however simple or complicated those words are, then mission accomplished. Her label as an “Instagram Poet,” a term meant to demean her accomplishments, should actually be revered. She is smart enough to meet readers where they are and do so in a way they can relate.

Regardless, those are my thoughts. Would love to know what you think.

CRY

MORE FROM CRY

Have you read my novella Thoughts of a Fractured Soul? If you haven’t, here’s a short description:

Corey is reflecting on his life as a teenager who has just had his first child. He relives his story through a series of fragmented memories, pieces of sporadic thought capturing moments of his life as he tries to care for his family. But Corey is failing, and as he continues to struggle he realizes how easily the world can fracture his ambitions and force him to settle for a life of mediocrity. Thoughts of a Fractured Soul pushes the reader to piece together these fragments themselves, and decide on what part of Corey’s conflicting tale can be trusted.

Why is everyone so mad at Rupi Kaur? was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.