Will someone have a word with Rihanna please? She’s been really good fun to have around, making a buncha delightfully dumb pop records and generally being pleasing on the eye. The perfect modern pop star in many respects.
However, she’s in danger of becoming very, very tiring very, very quickly because she’s now set her sights on constantly trying to shock us all. It all reeks of trying too hard, which is strange because she’s already done the hard work and really doesn’t need to. It feels like she’s pushing the wrong envelope.
And her latest video is causing more tiring outrage and, instead of being a hoot, she’s going to have to defend herself after she killed a rapist in a promo video for her latest single, Man Down.
Several groups are predictably angered by the video and it the vaguely violent opening sequence. Basically, Rihanna guns someone down who appears to have raped her. Okay? Up to speed? Good.
Rihanna says of it all:
“We just wanted to hone in on a very serious matter that people are afraid to address, especially if you’ve been victimized in this scenario”
And because the video ticks all the right boxes and complied with network guidelines, it’ll continue to be shown. However, the depressing Parent Television Council are once again on-hand to berate the music video.
Melissa Henson, director of communications and public education for the Parents Television Council, says:
“Instead of telling victims they should seek help, Rihanna released a music video that gives retaliation in the form of premeditated murder the imprimatur of acceptability”
Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, also condemned the video
“Pre-meditated murder is just as horrible and unacceptable as sexual assault, and we would hope that Rihanna and her music label would consider the potential impact of sending a message that violence should beget more violence.”
Will someone, anyone, involved in this dreary circus release a catchy pop record please?
Follow hecklerspray on Twitter or join our Facebook group or BUY ONE OF OUR STUPID T-SHIRTS!
Anyone else says
Anyone else starting to think that perhaps ole bitch slapper Chris Brown had the right idea?
aclineo says
maybe i’m just desensitized from too much tv but isn’t this a crazy amount of fuss over a music vid??
stella says
Well done, Rihanna! Although she should have gunned him down before he raped her.
I wonder if the victims would be told to seek help instead of retaliation if they were men. It turns out criminals do have the right to violence, but their victims don’t.
Why don’t the clowns from Parents Television Council tell rapists to abstain from violence? What exactly this pointless bunch of nincompoops gets paid for?
Old Jamaica says
The PTC is definitely pro-rapist