Campaigners and parents have hit out against pop star Beyoncé’s latest “explicit” music videos, which include sexual dance moves and X-rated lyrics.
The singer uploaded her new album directly to iTunes, including 17 videos which also appear on YouTube.
Vivienne Pattison, director of campaign group Mediawatch-UK, said it is “really sad” to see a star of such magnitude sink to this level.
Role model
“Like it or not Beyoncé is a role model and she needs to take responsibility for that. Especially as a mother herself, it’s very surprising that she would do this”, she said.
“It’s not like parents can protect their children by not buying the album. It’s there, on the internet, for anyone to access and as a parent that is incredibly worrying”, she added.
The videos involve the singer wearing skimpy outfits, and feature simulated lap dances, semi-naked dancers and “twerking” – a sexualised dance move recently performed by pop star Miley Cyrus.
Accused
The singer has been criticised for including her one-year-old daughter in the album – some fans have accused her of ‘cashing in’ on her child, and one charity said it’s a “very, very stupid thing to do”.
Pippa Smith, co-chairwoman of Safermedia said: “My view would be that the whole album should be banned. Even with age ratings it would still circulate round the playground and it’s sheer exploitation.”
Ikamara Larasi, who works for an organisation which aims to address violence against women, said that music videos “powerfully contribute to the mainstreaming of pornography and inequality”.
Screens
In a piece for the Guardian, she also wrote, “They are not just on the TV, they’re on the computer, in your pocket, on screens at gyms, cafes and bars”.
Beyoncé’s videos are the latest in a long line of controversial performances from pop stars, including Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and Robin Thicke.