‘In Her Words’: Megan Thee Stallion doc director says rapper is ‘an example of feminist strength’

Everyone seems to know everything about Megan Thee Stallion.

From her meteoric rise in the upper echelons of the music industry to the Tory Lanez 2020 shooting and subsequent lawsuit that sparked misinformation and a bitter rift in the hip-hop community, people online and in the industry thought they knew every detail of the The life of a Houston-born rapper. That’s why the rapper, born Megan Pete, had to make a documentary to reclaim her story – “In Her Words”.

That’s the message emphasized at the Manhattan premiere of the Prime Video documentary directed by Nneka Onuorah. In a live broadcast from the Los Angeles premiere, Megan and Onuorah gushed about the filmmaking process. Onuorah explained that her first meeting with the rapper turned into a three-hour crying session. The Emmy-winning director knew that “it was my life’s purpose to support and uplift a young woman through her journey of grief, trauma — using my art as the tool.”

But most of all, Onuorah emphasized that of all her films, “this film means the world to me. It is a portrait of resilience and a timeless artifact that reminds women of their true inner power.” Then the director introduced Megan, who was dressed royally in a purple silk dress and had an updo. The artist was immediately overcome with emotion as the audience roared in LA, not quite aware of the roars in my theater in New York.

The rapper, who suffered a lot at the hands of internet hate campaigns and misogyny before and during the Lanez trial, stated, “I started to see a lot of people start to dehumanize me and a lot of people tried to take control of my narrative and tell my story.”

But four years after the shooting, the 29-year-old said she was ready to open up about her life. “Let me just go ahead and tell my truth and put it on the table because you guys don’t respect anything but raw and honest. I tried to be a cookie-cutter celebrity for you guys. I’m sorry it didn’t work out, ” she said.

Salon’s interview with director Nneka Onuorah highlights the experience of making a documentary where we see Onuorah and Megan’s “closeness and intimacy” and how Megan Thee Stallion exists as a symbol of empowerment for women.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What was it about Megan that initially stood out to you that really made you know this was the right project for you?

What stood out to me is that a young woman experienced a transformation walking through the fire and I knew she was on her way to rising into a beautiful phoenix. And so it was a kind of coming-of-age story. I felt that the juxtaposition of Megan Thee Stallion going through the most successful point of her career while Megan Pete was struggling gave it an internal conflict that I think people could really learn a lesson from. So it was like a no-brainer for me in terms of the next film I wanted to make.

The documentary is called “In Her Words”, how did Megan reclaim the narrative of her life and career? How did you help her along the way?

Megan was so brave to show the hardest point of her life. She didn’t have to do this. I feel like me as a filmmaker, that’s why I didn’t use sit-down interviews and a lot of other people talking. I wanted a first person experience up close and personal, very intimate access with Megan. So I had to offer myself as a safe space where she could come and really share her thoughts, share her feelings, her emotions and observe her day in and day out. I took time out of my life, almost three years out of my life, to be able to dedicate to showing that experience because I knew it would be timeless. It will be a timeless doc for women to see, ‘How do I go from a powerless state to an empowered state by activating my own inner power, my inner vulnerability?’ and use it as a strength. The motif of Megan Thee Stallion versus Megan Pete shows it perfectly.

Megan is a big anime fan and the same style is seen in her music videos like “BOA” and “Neva Play.” Some of the most traumatic moments in Megan’s life such as the death of her mother, the shooting in 2020 and the subsequent trial are all told through animation. Why was animation the right move to retell these heavy life moments?

Number one, I always try to figure out as this artist, what does this person like? I knew Meg liked anime. But beyond that, there is so much conversation or footage around her external experience, but what can tell her internal experience? It is equally important to know what someone is going through inside. I felt like it would be a strong visualization of what she was going through, whether it was nightmares, anxiety therapy, as well as like memories of her mother that you know she has in her mind but she can’t hold onto them. I also wanted to offer a visualization of what she went through because I wanted Megan to look back and see this and say, “Wow, I’m so strong.” Or, “Oh my God, look at the beautiful time I had with my mom.” I wanted it to be something she could also reflect on herself. So I wanted because she likes anime and give her her own story as a gift, she would love anime and receive it that way.

It was one of my favorite parts of the documentary. Other standout moments are when Megan spirals over hot chips or when she admits she lied to Gayle King on “Good Morning America” ​​in 2022. How did you get to such a vulnerable place with Megan? Was it a challenge as a filmmaker?

I wouldn’t say it was a challenge. I would say it was my job to be able to walk away with this movie and I think creating that bond and that friendship was a real thing. When I shot the chips scene, you can hear my voice talking to her through it. I gave her the seat, I’m like, “Yo, why don’t you want to eat?” I was just a person with her and gave her space to express her frustration and had an outlet for it. Where does she have to go to do that? So I gave her space. I gave her a platform. I listened. I think listening really created a closeness and intimacy. Sometimes you just want people to relate to you and understand you. I really understood her. I get it, girl, I get it. I love food. So when things don’t go right with that and you’re stressed underneath, it can develop into something else. I put the camera on those moments. I think that’s what made it different. It’s like people, many other filmmakers try to appease and make a movie based on what they think, but I let the truth be what it is. That’s what filmmaking is and that’s my style of filmmaking.

Some of this truth lies in the loss of Megan’s mother, Holly Thomas, and her mother’s private grief. Did you find that there are some misconceptions about Megan’s private grief and the public persona she’s built?

I think they just forget that Megan Thee Stallion is human – Megan Pete is. Megan Thee Stallion is such an example of feminist strength and an icon and a strong woman. People forget that as a strong black woman, you can also be vulnerable. You can also go through pain. Those two things can be true and going through something doesn’t make you any less strong. Being strong doesn’t stop you from going through things. That’s where it came from and what was important to me.

A large part of this is because the hip-hop industry has mistreated Megan with exploitative record deals, beefing with rappers, and spreading misinformation online. What about the industry through Megan’s experience you uncovered while filming this movie?

I learned that the industry is deeply misogynistic and that they are intimidated by a woman who just deeply respects herself for herself. Audre Lorde’s “The Power of the Erotic” was really an inspiration for this. It talks about how women have to say yes to themselves: their erotic nature, their empowerment and it is not at the service of men all the time. So I made the film because it highlights that and how the industry is threatened by that and how the patriarchy is threatened by that. What I learned about the industry is that it is deeply patriarchal. It made me want to show one woman’s journey by two women even more.

Ultimately, we see the emotional release Megan has when Tory Lanez is convicted of the shooting. What was it like to see it in real time? What message do you hope this documentary and Megan’s story leave people with?

I was deeply emotional. I saw Meg go through everything. So to see her have that justice and that release, that cry, it just captured my heart. I want people to take away to tell the truth, to speak up for yourself, to not be afraid to be vulnerable and not try to present yourself as strong all the time. But allow yourself to go through these moments. I say the only way out is through. It’s not avoiding, but just going through things so you can get through them. That’s what’s so great about this movie. What I want people to take away from this film is just to know that they have a power within, innately, as a woman, and that they can access it if they just continue to stand alone in opposition .

“In Her Words” is now available to stream on Prime Video.