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Rihanna Blasted by Advocacy Groups for 'Man Down' Video

Posted Jun 2nd 2011 2:30PM by Latifah Muhammad
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Michael Tran, FilmMagic

Rihanna's new video for her reggae-tinged single 'Man Down' plays out like a mini-movie in which she finds herself involved in a physical altercation that ends in murder. Despite fans welcoming the visuals with open arms, it appears that the concept is not sitting well with advocacy groups.

The Parents Television Council has called out the Bajan beauty and BET for airing the video, which includes a rather violent scene of Rihanna shooting the man who rapes her. According to PTC, the video glamorizes a "cold, calculated execution of murder."

But the PTC isn't the only group taking issue with the graphic video. The entertainment watchdog group Industry Ears, also sees the video as a vicious double standard in regards to Rihanna's previous relationship with Chris Brown.

"Man Down' is an inexcusable, shock-only, shoot-and-kill theme song. In my 30 years of viewing BET, I have never witnessed such a cold, calculated execution of murder in primetime. Viacom's standards and practices department has reached another new low," said Industry Ears co-founder and former BET employee, Paul Porter. "If Chris Brown shot a woman in his new video and BET premiered it, the world would stop. Rihanna should not get a pass."

The organizations are also calling for BET and its parent company Viacom to stop airing the music video which premiered on the cable network's '106 & Park' Tuesday (May 31). Both groups claim that given her domestic altercation with Brown, she should have used the platform to send a non-violent message to victims of physical abuse and rape.

This isn't the first time that Rihanna has been in hot water with the PTC -- they also lashed out at her for her sexy performance of 'S&M' alongside Britney Spears at this year's Billboard Music Awards.

Watch Rihanna's 'Man Down'

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Filed under: Soul/R&B, R&B News, Soul/R&B Videos
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4 Comments

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gsnjwyman

ive had this happen to me, so I wish I could be as strong as a man to defend myself but I wasn't. I think that is what she was trying to say.
She said "no" at the club, but he act like a typical immature male and could not handle being turned down and attacked her. she wished she could be strong enough to defend herself at the time, but he overpowered her. that is where this is coming from, so I get it.

June 04 2011 at 8:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

cbbkf

Wtf...sure the video is graphic, but, did ANYONE pay attention 2 the WORDS?! It's not like she was happy, proud or bragging about it. In the song she expresses remorse. People please!! Listen before you start spouting off because u can't tell fact from fiction. She didn't kill anyone when she got beat, but, they're are some who do. Use this to teach young girls what NOT to do!!!!!

June 03 2011 at 11:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

kittycatman2u

All this press is just going to make people want to watch it more.

June 02 2011 at 3:38 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

Msqt

I personally didn't find anything wrong with the "Man Down" video. Why do men expect women to be passive when we are violently violated? Women are RAPED and BEATEN every day, and what happens to the RAPISTS/ABUSER?, nothing, to a slap on the wrist! For some strange reason, men seem to think that when a woman is raped, or beaten or both, nothing should be done about it. We are tired of being ABUSED, and we SHOULD fight back. Any way we can! What's the matter Rapists/Abusers? Are you afraid the same thing is going to happen to you? Well it should!!! And who is doing all the bitching about the "Man Down" video? Sounds like men to me. Paul Porter for example. And if there are ANY women bitching about the video, the chances are they have no idea what it's like to be violated by some scum ******* man. Let the video play, and Men, pay attention! Women, start fighting back. For ourselves and our children. There is very little justice in this country for women and children, so WE, Women must do what we have to do, to protect our children and ourselves. NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!!!!

June 02 2011 at 3:29 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

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