‘My girl's a bitch': Royel Otis face fan backlash after ‘misogynistic' song lyrics
Royel Otis is a Sydney indie-pop duo made up of band members Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic. The duo has more than 7 million monthly listeners on Spotify, won four awards at the 2024 ARIAs, and is set to play at some of the biggest festivals in the world this year, including Glastonbury and Mad Cool in Spain.
Their latest single Moody released on May 9, has so far amassed almost 80,000 views on YouTube, and is angering some fans, who hit out on social media accusing the song of containing 'misogynistic' lyrics including referencing a former girlfriend as a 'bitch'.
Part of the lyrics include:
'I got good intentions
She don't see them at all
She'd rather mention
That I missed her call
I'm in the doghouse again …
'She's always givin' it to me
Late nights, she always accusin'
Last time, she said she would kill me
My girl's a bitch when she's moody …'
'Questions are loaded
Her face says a lot
She's cryptically coated
She's home when I'm not
It's just big emotions
It's not jealousy
Most days of the week.'
'In 2025, it's disheartening to hear a local Australian artist- someone I know or I knew- casually refer to women as 'bitches' in their lyrics,' a former school friend of Pavlovic told news.com.au.
Pavlovic attended Newtown Performing Arts High School until moving to Waverly College in his later years of secondary education.
'They've been deleting comments that call out the lyrics and video, while only replying to the positive ones. It's dismissive and cowardly, and it says a lot about whose voices they value,' the former school friend said.
'When artists use their platforms to propagate harmful language, they contribute to a culture that devalues women and hinders progress toward equality and safety. It's so important that we hold creators accountable and demand more responsible representation.'
The Instagram post announcing the release of the single on May 10 was quickly inundated with unimpressed fans.
One comment from @juliawhymusic said 'these lyrics are not only boring they are misogynist which clearly translates to real life behaviour when you're deleting and blocking comments … @triple_j why do you platform this s***? It's 2025 not 1985.'
Another from @tullym read: 'Hello! Me again. Nice try deleting comments & blocking women strong enough to call out your misogynistic behaviour. Unfortunately for you both it ain't gonna fly. Try owning your s*** next time, you'll find it's the better route. You might even learn a thing or two about basic decency! Toodaloo! Hope you don't delete this one'
The post has so far attracted hundreds of comments.
@poolroom.mp3 said 'multimillion $ record deal, 1 of the biggest platforms in aus music, & this is what you decide to contribute. Shame on you.'
@dexter.lola added 'Otis nah releasing a song with lyrics like this during a femicide epidemic is crazy. Imagine talking about your sis like this. Shame. It's just cheap asf not cute. Whole team should have a think about this.'
News.com.au asked the band's management six specific questions relating to the lyrics and online backlash.
In response news.com.au received an email from Kay and Hughes Art and Entertainment Lawyers, quoting management as saying: 'Moody has been Royel Otis' highest performing release in the first 2 weeks globally both digitally and on radio.'
'This song is written from a specific perspective, it is not intended to convey a broader view or standpoint about women in general,' Pavlovic and Maddell said.
'We apologise if anyone understood those lyrics otherwise.'
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