Social-media activist Inessa Lee uses music as a tool to stand up against online hate. Her track “Love Gun” has fueled “Love Gun for Peace” initiative, a social-media flash mob launched by the award-winning nonprofit IFERS (Institute for Education, Research & Scholarships). Influencers around the world joined in, sharing videos of themselves dancing to the song while promoting messages of peace.
“Love Gun” peaked at No. 5 on the UK Music Week Commercial Pop Club Chart and broke into Japan’s Spotify Top 10, collecting over 2.5 million streams globally. The song has become a celebrated pride anthem, embraced by club DJs who support the “Love Gun for Pride” initiative — another aspect of Lee’s anti-bullying efforts. This campaign champions LGBTQ+ individuals who face persistent discrimination. All revenues from the song are donated to IFERS, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit, to support educational charities.
Earlier this year, Inessa Lee disclosed that she had been cyberbullied by a former Broadway actress Jasmine Amy Rogers, who allegedly targeted her online after ‘Boop! The Musical’ ended its run. Reportedly, Rogers became upset over losing her role and directed her misplaced frustration at Inessa. “She acted as if had taken her spotlight on social media,” Inessa said. Inessa’s Betty Boop impressions, previously showcased on American Idol, made her a viral figure. In a way, the Betty Boop connection may have fueled the tension between the two —and ultimately inspired Inessa to launch the “Love Gun for Peace” campaign.
Perhaps, these unsettling events also defined the style and mood of the “Love Gun” music video, which plays out like a sleek, high-tech action thriller. In the video, Inessa embodies a glamorous, Bond-girl–type heroine hunting down a cybercriminal who carries vital information embedded in a neural chip. The story concludes with Inessa triumphantly pinning her enemy to the ground, pressing a red-soled Louboutin heel to his head.
