Rihanna recently sparked controversy after releasing her new music video “Man Down.” The music video depicts Rihanna avenging a sexual assault by shooting the sex offender responsible.
Too close to home?
It was only a few years back when Rihanna was infamously assaulted in 2009 by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. So is she the right person to be releasing a video like this?
The beginning of the video starts with Rihanna shooting a man in the middle of a rail station. The music video then flashes back to a night of clubbing where Rihanna turns a man down resulting in a sexual assault in an alleyway outside of the club.
While I don’t necessarily agree that the video is more violent than let’s say a Criminal Minds episode. I just find it very creepy. Already she has come out with “Love the Way you Lie” which reminded us of her relationship with Chris Brown – this makes you question it again.
When she first aired the video the star tweeted:
“Thank you for the amazing response on ManDownVideo I love you guys, and I love that u GOT IT!!! Young girls/women all over the world…we are a lot of things! We’re strong innocent fun flirtatious vulnerable, and sometimes our innocence can cause us to be naïve! We always think it could NEVER be us, but in reality, it can happen to ANY of us! So ladies be careful and #listentoyomama! I love you and I care!”
Does the video help those who have been in this situation? Critics don’t think so. They also feel like the artist isn’t being very responsible when she posts up violent and controversial videos such as “ManDown.”
Is she being responsible? Well, she doesn’t seem to care if she is either way:
“The music isn’t exactly Parents R Us!” She tweets. “We have the freedom to make art, LET US! It’s your job to make sure they don’t turn out like US.”
She goes on to defend herself:
“I’m a 23 year old rockstar with NO KIDS! What’s up with everybody wantin me to be a parent? I’m just a girl, I can only be your/our voice! Cuz we all know how difficult/embarrassing it is to communicate touchy subject matters to anyone especially our parents! And this is why! Cuz we turn the other cheek! U can’t hide your kids from society, or they’ll never learn how to adapt! This is the REAL WORLD!”
I think this is a bit of a desperate cry for attention. We get it Rihanna –you’re a bad ass. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE the song – but I think there were other ways to promote the message of female empowerment.
Check out the video below:
What do you think? Is it about female empowerment or is it just meant to be controversial?
i like the viedo i think that yull should put it on t.v because things like this is happen to young girl:/