LOS ANGELES — Rihanna slammed critics of her latest music video in which she shoots a man who raped her, defending the piece Thursday as a work of art.
“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!” she tweeted about the criticism over the violence in the video for her single “Man Down.”
“U can’t hide your kids from society,or they’ll never learn how to adapt!This is the REAL WORLD!” she added in her defense, a day after media watchdog groups blasted the violent message of the video.
The film was described as an “inexcusable, shock-only, shoot-and-kill theme song,” by Paul Porter, co-founder of Industry Ears.
“I have never witnessed such a cold, calculated execution of murder in primetime,” Porter added, calling on BET to pull the video from its programming after it premiered on the network’s “106 & Park” program Tuesday.
“The music industry isn’t exactly Parents R Us! We have the freedom to make art, LET US!” the Grammy Award winner responded in her Twitter messages.
Rihanna herself was the victim of physical abuse at the hands of her former boyfriend, R&B singer Chris Brown.
“Rihanna’s personal story and status as a celebrity superstar provided a golden opportunity for the singer to send an important message to female victims of rape and domestic violence,” Melissa Henson, from the Parents Television Council said.
“Instead of telling victims they should seek help, Rihanna released a music video that gives retaliation in the form of premeditated murder the imprimatur of acceptability,” Henson added.