Lady Gaga Not Banned by MTV, Remains Shunned by Michel Gondry

The internet was ablaze yesterday with reports that MTV had banned Lady Gaga and Beyoncé’s video for “Telephone,” on the grounds that it was too controversial, sexual and/or violent for its programming.  CNN started the gossipfest and MTV has countered:

“MTV did not ban Lady Gaga and Beyoncé’s ‘Telephone’ video — in fact, we premiered it on Friday, March 12, on-air and online at MTV.com, two days before this story was falsely reported,” said MTV Executive Vice President of Music and Talent Amy Doyle.

CNN’s Fredericka Whitfield had said on air: “It’s so strong, so suggestive, so sexual, so violent as well, that MTV has said, ‘We’re not even going to air this, so it has banned the airing of this video.’” All of this was stated without citing a source.

People seem to have been pretty touchy since this same cable channel removed the “music television” part of its famous logo not that long ago, thereby deeming it irrelevant by many in both the music industry and in the music blogosphere. So MTV has dodged the “I” word, for a little while longer.

Michel Gondry will have nothing of it anyhow. When asked if he would ever direct a Lady Gaga video, he brought intelligent discourse to the pop cultural table:

“I’m not interested,” Gondry said. “To me it’s like a form of Marilyn Manson. It’s hard for me to talk about it; I’ve seen a couple of videos of hers, and not for very long. I stop watching them each time because I don’t think there’s melodies.”

He ended with: “But maybe it’s considered high art just because of the way she dresses?”

Quentin Tarantino famously lent his Pussy Wagon from the Kill Bill franchise to Lady Gaga for this video.The video comes off as a Tarantino-esque revenge tale, but with no Tarantino. One can’t help but ponder if Gaga’s music was better, she would attract more top-notch directing talent.

Now that I’ve irritated you for the day, sound off. Do you still watch MTV for the videos? Will I ever stop detesting Lady Gaga’s music? Or am I just secretly angry that Lady Gaga brought back the giant shoulder pad look?