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Cardi B Clapped Back at Racist Remarks About Her Birkin Collection

@iamcardib, Instagram

Notice more people than usual talking about Hermès Birkin bags on your timeline? That's because there is a Birkin saga going on that involves rappers, fashion, racism, and arguments over whether the bags are really worth upwards of $12,000. Now, as reported by Us Weekly, Cardi B has joined the Birkin conversation after someone said rappers like her are making the bags depreciate in value.

According to W Magazine, a social media post was circulating recently that read, "Birkins have literally lost their value. The City Girls and Cardi have got y’all convinced that these Birkin bags are easy to get. These bags are supposed to be exclusive and you’re supposed to be big in the fashion world and have relationships with these people to get one."

There's a lot wrong with the message—Cardi is big in the fashion world, to start—but let's let her explain it.

In an Instagram video posted on October 25th, Cardi said, "I've been seeing this tweet, right, that had me and other female rappers on it and they were talking about if we could get Birkins from the Hermès store...First thing first, I definitely could get a bag. Actually, I got four bags today from the Hermès store. I don't want to brag, but it's like don't even try it."

Cardi continued, "Why is it that y'all asking female rappers if they could get a bag from the Hermès store. Y'all don't do this to these white celebrities." She's right. White celebrities walk around with Birkin bags all the time, and it doesn't start an entire trend on Twitter.

"Why when a Black girl, why when a Hispanic girl have a bag, ya'll have to question it?" Cardi said.

As for her next point: Cardi is not causing the bags to depreciate in value. "If they're saying that we depreciate the value, actually we add value because in hip hop, when we mention brands in hip hop their shit go up." The 28-year-old referenced the fact that when she mentioned Louboutin shoes in her breakout single "Bodak Yellow" searches for the shoes increased, and that after referencing Balenciaga in "I Like It," she became the new face of the fashion house.

Cardi is just one part of a larger conversation about Birkin bags centered around Black celebrities. The whole thing kicked off when rapper Saweetie posted a video saying, "If he not getting you a Birkin, if he not paying for your bills, then throw that n— back to the streets, okay?" This got a huge reaction on Twitter with people talking about how hard the bags are to get and how expensive they are for the average person. A number of other celebrities have also jumped into the convo—BET has a full rundown—with claims about fake Birkins and more.

Cardi concluded that "If you're a regular girl, you don't have to break your neck to have a Birkin. A Birkin don't make you." She gave a shoutout to everyone rocking Fashion Nova, Zara, and H&M, and told people to be mindful of what they see people having—or claiming to have—on the internet.

When it comes down to it, yes, Birkin bags are hard to get and very expensive, but Cardi B is one of the most successful rappers out there. She is exactly the person anyone should expect can get her hands on a Birkin bag. Or twenty.