Despite continuous social media backlash, Chlöe Bailey is showing no intentions of “toning down” her sexually appealing aesthetic. If anything, the visuals for her hit single “Treat Me” are arguably the most sexually provocative piece of art by Beyoncè’s prodigy thus far. The sultry music video oozes sex appeal and sees Chlöe embody different characters that visualise the same concept: navigating sexuality as a female representing zoomers in the 21st century.
The “Treat Me” music video ushers us in with a Y2K R&B girl-inspired aesthetic propelled by Chlöe Bailey’s latex leather outfit. The black-and-white scene sees the “Have Mercy” hit-maker fiercely posing beside a tiger. Showing the middle finger to the nay-sayers, Chlöe bends over as she says the song’s lyrics: “you’re gonna have to do a lotta ass-kissing” in a rap-sung cadence. The Y2K visual inspo is exacerbated by the backup dancers in chunky Spice Girls boots.
Paying homage to her mother in the performing arts, Beyoncè, Chlöe snuck a sexy shower scene into the visuals. The scene is similar to the one from Queen B’s “Naughty Girl” music video from her 2004 video album, Live at Wembley.
Amplifying the sultry ambience, Chlöe channels her inner goddess in a golden honey bathtub. The “Grown-ish” star harmonises the song’s vocals while gracefully adorning her lengthy locs in a voguish style, complemented with large, golden hoop earrings.
The music video concludes with a scene of Chlöe in a flowy leather coat and thigh-high boots. The risque image is portrayed as the single’s cover art on various music distribution platforms.
What has been very compelling about Chlöe’s “ungodly era” is her consistency. She has given us three chart-topping hits since her solo debut and has revealed that an album is somewhere in the vault. The social media backlash about her sex appeal is a reminder that society still has a very toxic obsession with controlling women’s sexual expression. Critics have labelled Chlöe’s sex appeal as “desperate and forced.” My chat is that Chlöe is a 24-year-old woman who has recently launched her solo music career. She should surely be given room to explore, be it artistically or otherwise.
Nonetheless, the online trolls are not keeping Ms. Bailey down. The “Treat Me” music video is a reminder that Chlöe has no intention of switching up her aesthetic, and critics will just have to live with that.
