Sam Smith has discovered themselves on the centre of one other controversy following the discharge of their raunchy music video.
The singer, 30, launched the racy video for his or her new observe I am Not Right here To Make Pals final week, with critics calling for it to be age restricted on platforms similar to YouTube attributable to its controversial content material.
Sam has seemingly disregarded the controversy surrounding the music video which reveals them dancing alongside a lot of performers carrying corsets, suspenders and nipple tassels.
Sam’s followers have been fast to leap to his defence by arguing that their music video isn’t any totally different to loads of different celebrated artists’ providing.
From the likes of Miley Cyrus‘ Wrecking Ball to Queen’s I Wish to Break Free there have been loads of scandalous music movies launched in recent times.
Check out 10 of essentially the most controversial and complained about music movies.
They’re Not The Solely One: As Sam Smith faces backlash over their ‘hyper-sexualised’ music video to I am Not Right here To Make Pals we check out 10 different scandalous clips
Queen – I Need To Break Free (1984)
Once I Need To Break Free was launched in 1984, it proved to be an immediate hit within the UK charts, reaching Quantity 3.
Nonetheless it didn’t chart efficiently within the States, with the music video – an idea proposed by drummer Roger Taylor – believed to be responsible.
Within the iconic music video the band members, Roger, Freddie Mercury, Brian Could, John Deacon and Fred Mandel all wearing drag as they parodied long-running ITV cleaning soap opera Coronation Road.
Whereas Brits had been accustomed to tug performances within the Eighties, the identical was to not be stated throughout the pond, with Roger recalling: ‘MTV had been very narrow-minded. It was Whitesnake, f***ing Whitesnake, after which one other Whitesnake observe.
‘They usually determined they did not suppose that males in drag was ‘rock’ sufficient, I suppose. So that they did not play the video.’
Brian added: ‘I keep in mind being on the promo tour within the Midwest of America and other people’s faces turning ashen. And they might say, no, we will not play this. We won’t presumably play this. You understand, it seems gay…’
Iconic: Within the iconic music video for Queen’s I Need To Break Free band members all wearing drag as they parodied long-running ITV cleaning soap opera Coronation Road
Madonna – Like a Prayer (1989)
Whereas Madonna’s Like a Prayer persistently tops lists of the most effective music movies of all time it induced outrage on the time.
Within the video Madonna shelters in a church as she seeks the power to come back ahead after witnessing an harmless black man arrested for the homicide of a white lady.
The video, directed by Mary Lambert (Pet Sematary), options burning crosses from the Ku Klux Klan and a dream sequence with Madonna romping with a black saint.
The day after the music video was launched, The Vatican issued a press release condemning it whereas non secular teams boycotted Pepsi for utilizing the tune in one in every of their commercials.
Madonna addressed the backlash on the music video’s anniversary, sharing: ’30 years in the past at the moment I launched Like a Prayer and made a video that induced a lot controversy as a result of I kissed a black saint and danced in entrance of burning crosses,’ she stated.
‘I additionally made a business with PEPSI that was banned as a result of my video was seen as inappropriate. Blissful Birthday to Me and Controversy.’
Saintly: Whereas Madonna’s Like a Prayer persistently tops lists of the most effective music movies of all time it induced outrage on the time
Nirvana – Coronary heart-Formed Field (1993)
Coronary heart-Formed Field was the ultimate Nirvana music video filmed by Kurt Cobain earlier than his suicide and proved to be essentially the most controversial.
When the tune was launched Kurt claimed it was impressed by a tv report about kids affected by most cancers however there are a number of anti-abortion messages operating all through the video.
The video didn’t draw back from grotesque and controversial scenes, that includes an emaciated man on a crucifix carrying a Santa hat, in addition to a lady wearing a Klu Klux Klan outfit choosing fetuses from a tree.
Kurt was happy with the tip end result, saying that it got here ‘nearer to what I’ve seen in my thoughts, to what I’ve envisioned, than some other video.’
Regardless of being condemned by many the video was the primary most performed music video on MTV in 1993.
It additionally received two MTV Video Music Awards in 1994, for Finest Different Video and for Finest Artwork Route.
Non secular imagery: Coronary heart-Formed Field was the ultimate Nirvana music video filmed by Kurt Cobain earlier than his suicide and proved to be essentially the most controversial
The Prodigy – Smack My B***h Up (1997)
Whereas The Prodigy had been recognized for his or her controversial songs and movies, Smack My B***h Up pushed boundaries even additional with its graphic depictions of intercourse, drug use and violence.
The video, filmed fully in first-person perspective, depicts a drug-and-alcohol-fueled night time out throughout which the protagonist assaults a number of males and sexually assaults a number of girls.
The protagonist ends their night time at a strip membership earlier than sleeping with one in every of strippers, as they move out in entrance of a mirror it is revealed that the protagonist can be a lady.
MTV initially restricted the video to late-night rotation till stress from teams similar to the US Nationwide Group for Ladies noticed it banned from the air.
The Prodigy hit again at claims the video and lyrics had been encouraging violence in the direction of girls, claiming it was symbolism and saying: ‘In the event that they suppose that tune is about smacking girlfriends up, then they’re fairly brainless.’
Regardless of the controversy, the video was nominated for 4 awards within the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, in the end profitable two: Finest Dance Video and Breakthrough Video.
Intense: Whereas The Prodigy had been recognized for his or her controversial movies, Smack My B***h Up pushed boundaries even additional with its graphic depictions of intercourse, drug use and violence
Eminem – Stan (2000)
Stan was one in every of Eminem’s most well-known tracks and instructed the story of Stan, a fan who seems as much as Eminem’s alter ego, Slim Shady.
Over 4 verses, nonetheless, Stan turns into disillusioned and his psychological well being deteriorates with tragic penalties, kidnapping his pregnant girlfriend then in the end killing them each.
Dido performed Eminem’s romantic lead within the music video, which was closely censored to create a ‘clear’ model that may very well be proven on TV.
Within the video, Eminem holds his girlfriend hostage within the trunk of his automotive however the clear model removes scenes of her being gagged and certain.
Scenes of Eminem consuming vodka behind the wheel are additionally minimize as is Dido’s screams because the automotive plunges off the street right into a river.
Stan was nominated for 5 gongs on the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards: Video of the Yr; Finest Male Video; Finest Rap Video; Finest Route in a Video; Finest Cinematography.
Controversial: Dido performed Eminem’s romantic lead within the music video for Stan which was closely censored to create a ‘clear’ model that may very well be proven on TV
Dirrty – Christina Aguilera (2002)
Aged 21 and after breaking freed from her administration, Christina Aguilera shocked the world when she launched the provocative music video for Dirrty
The video noticed her strip right down to bottom-baring chaps as she writhed round in a boxing ring in opposition to shirtless males.
It was banned from TV in Thailand though to not do with the sexual nature however from a set of posters included within the background of the clip that marketed intercourse tourism within the nation.
Whereas it shocked audiences on the time Christina lately revealed she would don’t have any points exhibiting her kids the video as a result of she desires to show them that intercourse is a wonderfully pure a part of being human.
She additionally defined: ‘Dirrty was extraordinarily controversial on the time, however it will be nothing now. I hope I paved the best way and helped set the bottom guidelines that girls could be any model of themselves they wanna be … and happy with it.’
Racy: Christina Aguilera shocked the world when she stripped right down to bottom-baring chaps and writhed round in a boxing ring in opposition to shirtless males for the Dirrty video
Robin Thicke that includes T.I. and Pharrell Williams – Blurred Traces (2013)
Married singer Robin Thicke’s single Blurred Traces induced outrage amongst girls in all places for its ‘rapey’ lyrics and video.
The brazenly sexist video for the observe confirmed girls prancing round carrying nothing however thongs because the absolutely dressed rappers ogle them and whisper ‘I do know you need it’ of their ears.
The unrated model of the video was banned from YouTube for the plain nudity, whereas a censored and no much less offensive video remained.
Emily Ratajkowski featured as one of many nude fashions within the video and it launched her Hollywood profession however she later described it as ‘the bane of my existence.’
She later claimed to have been sexually assaulted on set, stating Robin had groped her naked breasts from behind whereas she believed him to be intoxicated. Robin known as the allegations ‘ridiculous.’
Controversial: Married singer Robin Thicke’s single Blurred Traces induced outrage amongst girls in all places for its ‘rapey’ lyrics and video
Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball (2013)
Former Disney star darling shed her baby star picture as soon as and for all when she stripped absolutely nude for her controversial Wrecking Ball video.
Within the video, a nude Miley straddles a swinging wrecking ball, licks a sledgehammer and smashes up just a few partitions for good measure.
When it was launched, the video acquired a staggering 12.3million views in simply 24 hours on Vevo to grow to be most seen file.
The video got here after Miley’s now notorious VMA efficiency, which noticed her parade round in a bra and knickers, while twerking (once more) and performing another obscure actions with a foam finger.
She later admitted that she regretted making the video, saying: ‘I am by no means dwelling that down. I’ll all the time be the bare lady on a wrecking ball.
‘I simply licked the sledgehammer. I ought to have thought how lengthy that was going to comply with me round. That is my worst nightmare – that being performed at my funeral.’
Ballsy: Former Disney star darling shed her baby star picture as soon as and for all when she stripped absolutely nude for her controversial Wrecking Ball video
Kanye West – Well-known (2016)
Kanye West isn’t any stranger to controversy however he shocked followers with the weird and twisted video for Well-known that featured an orgy of bare celebrities in mattress collectively.
The visible confirmed the rapper together with his then-wife Kim Kardashian bare and asleep, together with ten different celebs together with Taylor Swift and Ray J.
A gradual zoom out revealed their different bedmates to be Amber Rose, Caitlyn Jenner, Invoice Cosby, George W. Bush, Donald Trump, Anna Wintour, Rihanna and Chris Brown, all snuggled up beside them within the monumental mattress.
Whereas all the lads within the mattress had their modesty protected by strategically positioned legs and sheets, the women had been afforded no such cowl.
The video was negatively obtained on YouTube, gathering almost 100,000 dislikes three days after being uploaded, which outweighed the variety of likes.
The celebrities mocked up within the video additionally weren’t impressed with Ray J revealing it had induced points together with his fiancée, whereas Taylor was stated to be ‘livid.’
Starkers: Kanye West shocked followers with the weird and twisted video for Well-known that featured an orgy of bare celebrities in mattress collectively, together with himself and ex-wife Kim
Lil Nas X – Montero /Name Me by Your Title (2021)
As one of many few brazenly homosexual rappers within the trade, Lil Nas X is keen about celebrating homosexual tradition in his music movies.
Nonetheless, whereas many commentators praised Montero (Name Me by Your Title) for being ‘unashamedly queer’ it obtained criticism from conservative commentators in the US, a few of whom deemed it immoral or dangerous to kids.
Within the video, the rapper rode a stripper pole to hell earlier than giving Devil a lap dance.
South Dakota governor Kristi Noemi lashed out at Nas, saying ‘That is outrageous, disgusting and perverted and on #PalmSunday no much less.
‘In some way @lilnasx thinks that Satanic worship must be mainstream and regular. I don’t suppose there have been higher candidates to cancel than LilNasX and these footwear.’
In response to criticism, Nas wrote on Twitter: ‘There’s a mass taking pictures each week that our authorities does nothing to cease. Me sliding down a CGI pole is not what’s destroying society.’
Dancing with the satan: The video for Montero (Name me By Your Title) induced outrage for depicting Lil Nas X giving the Satan a lap dance within the pits of hell
