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That's Entertainment! Vengeful Murderer Rihanna Riles Radical Parent Groups
Rape. Murder. Regret. It all happens on top of Caribbean rhythms in the latest video from 23-year-old Barbados-born pop sensation Rihanna. Since its premiere on Tuesday, "Man Down" has drawn ire from the likes of the Parents Television Council and others for its suggested violence. It opens with Rihanna shooting an innocent man from behind at a crowded train station. Rihanna, now an L.A. resident whose had her fair share of run-ins with the law, most notably as the victim of a February 2009 alleged beating at the hands of Chris Brown.
After the "Man Down" video debuted Tuesday on BET, the PTC, the Enough Is Enough campaign and the entertainment think tank Industry Ears issued a statement condemning the violence conveyed in the video. "'Man Down' is an inexcusable, shock-only, shoot-and-kill theme song," said Industry Ears co-founder Paul Porter, according to MTV. And you've gotta wonder if people like Porter have ever been inside an art museum or whether they hyperventilate while driving by the evocative and lewd, 1-800-get-thin billboards infesting the 10 freeway.
"Man Down" has a very strong underlying message 4 girls like me," Rihanna tweeted on Monday. And on Thursday her tweets defended her stance. Whatever you think about the song and video, Rihanna definitely has a way about blending controversy into her craft. Earlier this year, the video for her song "S & M" was banned in 11 countries and when YouTube restricted the video she went ahead and posted it to her own website.
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