Rebecca Black Reflects on Her Rise to Fame and Its Challenges

In a recent appearance on the Mythical Kitchen podcast on January 14, singer-songwriter Rebecca Black opened up about the unexpected and overwhelming rise to fame she experienced in 2011 following the release of her viral song "Friday." The track, known for its catchy tune, quickly catapulted Black into the public eye, but along with the newfound recognition came a barrage of criticism and negative commentary.

Black discussed how some of the backlash even came from artists she admired, recounting an interview in which Lady Gaga, whom she had looked up to as a 13-year-old, referred to her as a "genius." This acknowledgment was particularly meaningful to Black at the time and has grown in significance as she has navigated her career. “It was so special, and it’s only meant more to me, I think, as I’ve kind of gone throughout my career and have tried to navigate this entire process,” said the now 27-year-old.

Reflecting on her early teenage years, Black shared how she idolized pop stars such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Justin Bieber, even having cardboard cutouts of them in her bedroom. However, her rapid rise to fame, driven largely by the viral success of "Friday," changed her perception of these stars, especially when she realized they were aware of her existence.

“It was such a crazy experience to go from, like, living in my bedroom and all of these people being so far away to, all of a sudden, them mentioning your name somewhere or just acknowledging that you exist,” Black recalled. Despite the excitement, she admitted that the experience was also difficult due to the mockery she received. “A lot of those experiences were people who were obviously, like, poking fun and laughing. That can be like, slightly crushing as a kid,” she added.

Despite the negative attention, Black highlighted positive moments, such as her cameo in Katy Perry’s 2011 music video for "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)," which helped her process the complexities of fame. She also recalled a tweet from Justin Bieber in 2011, which some interpreted as a slight towards her.

Through these experiences, Black learned to navigate fame, which she credits for her understanding of how to handle the public's influence and the expectations placed on celebrities. “You do kind of lead the way a little bit, of like guiding the messaging,” she explained, emphasizing the importance of taking control of one’s narrative in the modern age of social media and fan culture.

Looking ahead, Black is set to release her new album Salvation on February 27, marking a new chapter in her career. She also expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from fans of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, noting how their kindness has left a lasting impact.