Today’s music artists love to turn up the spice, heat up some controversy, and push boundaries in their new music videos.
The only problem is there are some things just too damn hot for TV. Music videos have been banned for issues as various as the song’s overall message, to larger issues such as nudity and sexual content.
DETAILS: Nicki Minaj’s “Stupid Hoe” Gets Banned From BET!
This morning, it was confirmed that Nicki Minaj’s “Stupid Hoe” video has been officially banned from airing on BET. But Nicki isn’t the only artist, nor will she be the last to get a big fat CENSORSHIP sticker plastered across her video reel.
GlobalGrind rounded up 12 controversial line-stepping videos that all received the network television axe.
Take a look at the 12 too hot for TV music videos that were banned from MTV and BET in the videos below!
Ciara & Ludacris “Ride”- Ciara’s “Ride” video was banned from BET for being sexually explicit and not sending a positive message to young women.
Lady Gaga “Alejandro”- Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” video wasn’t officially banned, but due to its offensive religious imagery, MTV decided to only play the video on its sister stations after midnight.
Madonna “Justify My Love” – Madonna was definitely ahead of her time. Madonna’s video “Justify My Love” was banned in 1990 due to its sexual content and imagery featuring bi-sexuality and sadomasochism.
M.I.A. “Sunshowers” – M.I.A.’s video “Sunshowers” was banned from MTV after she refused to censor some of her politically charged lyrics about terrorism and gun control. M.I.A. stuck to her guns, and to this day, the video doesn’t get spins on TV.
Game & Lil Wayne “Red Nation” – Game’s “Red Nation” video featuring Lil Wayne was banned from MTV and BET for it’s “aggressive content” and gang-related messages.
Marilyn Manson “Coma White” – Marilyn Manson isn’t a stranger to getting banned, but he crossed the line big time when his video “Coma White” featured a scene where Marilyn simulates JFK’s assassination and gets his head blown off in car. Not cool.
Prodigy “Smack My Bitch Up” –Band Prodigy made lots of headlines when they released their song “Smack My Bitch Up.” The BBC originally banned the song from airwaves due to its misogynistic undertone, but after the band released the video, all hell broke loose. MTV and other networks ‘banned’ together and refused to play the video because it encouraged domestic violence against women. After much protest, MTV eventually played the video, but only after midnight and an MTV news advisory.
Teiarra Mari Featuring Gucci Mane & Soulja Boy “Sponsor”– Singer Teiarra Mari’s video was banned from BET due to its overall message. Guess BET didn’t like Teiarra encouraging young women to find men who could “sponsor” someone’s lifestyle. BET thought it promoted a negative message, so Teairra got the axe.
Mistah FAB “Ghost Ride It”- Oakland rapper Mistah FAB’s video “Ghost Ride It” was banned from MTV because of the stunt called “ghost riding the whip.” “Ghost Ride It” hit the airwaves, but after MTV received videos of fans “ghost riding” in their cars, and when news broke that people were getting killed and injured from the stunt, MTV pulled the plug on Mistah FAB.
Rick James “Super Freak”– Before rap hit the TV screens of millions, a lot of black artists from the ’70s and ’80s had a hard time getting their videos played on mainstream stations like MTV. When Rick James released his “Super Freak” video, which featured him (a black man) flirting and dancing with white women, MTV refused to play the video, stating it didn’t fit their “rock format.”
Rick eventually called MTV out and accused them of “blatant racism.” Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be until Michael Jackson released “Billie Jean” for a black person to grace the screen of MTV, which happened to be two years later.
Bjork “Cocoon” – Bjork’s video “Cocoon” got the axe from television when the video featured a naked Bjork singing with red ribbon coming out of her nipples. The video is definitely a little weird, but overall it’s very inappropriate for TV.
Motley Crue “Girls, Girls, Girls”- Motley Crue’s “Girls, Girls, Girls” video was banned from MTV due to nudity. The video was shot in a strip club in Los Angeles, and we all know nudey bars and naked hot chicks don’t necessarily belong on TV.
