Rihanna’s “S&M” Director Defends Banned Video’s Ball Gags, “We Just Went For It & Didn’t Care”

Written By S. Samuel

Grammy-winning singer Rihanna's "S&M" music video director has stepped forward to defend its controversial content and being banned in nearly a dozen countries.

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According to director Melina Matsoukas, controversy shows the amount of people embracing its content.

“When I go out to make something, I kind of go out with the intention to get it banned — [well] not to get it banned, I always want my stuff played — but to make something provocative,” Matsoukas explained in an interview. “So when you do something that’s provocative, that’s usually a repercussion. It’s gonna be talked about or banned or slandered in some way. But it’s making an effect and people are having a dialogue about it, so, to me, that’s successful..I mean, the song is called ‘S&M’!”– So I think that the imagery follows suit with what the song is. I wouldn’t play down the imagery for a song that’s so strong. It makes sense to develop it further and really take it there. So if they don’t want to play it, [fans] can watch it somewhere else…The whole time we were like, ‘If we use ball gags and we show this, are they gonna play it?’ And we just went for it and didn’t care, and people seem to be embracing that.” (MTV)

Earlier this week, Rihanna resorted to Twitter to provide links to the banned video.

“RT @loveririforever @rihanna no….. its tue boo :/ in ma country is blocked…. youtube says that only the ppl more than 18 can see it :/ … @loveririforever not true, they watched Umbrella…I was full nude…U can now view the S&M video on www.Rihannanow.com UNFLAGGED!!!,” she tweeted February 1st.

“@ciarastan4life WATCH S&M on RihannaNow.com NOW”

“#crackyowhip #RihannaNavy WE NEED S&M TO CRACK TOP 10 ON U.S. ITUNES NOW!!! BUY IT HERE!!! @Rihanna – S&M – itun.es/iFm7RB #iTunes-2” (Rihanna’s Twitter)

The video has reportedly been banned in nearly a dozen countries.

The diva is back with her new single S&M – and the video is so steamy, it’s already been banned from 11 countries and counting. The vid features 22-year-old RiRi, writhing around in white latex (“with lube”, she says), sucking a banana (“I made ’em give me a spit bucket in between takes”), wearing bondage gear and simulates sex with a lifesize doll. And the words to the song are just as dirty as the images. “Sex in the air, I don’t care, I love the smell of it,” she sings. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me.” Oo-er! Southern Asian countries immediately banned it. (Mirror)

The song stems from Rihanna’s new Loud solo album which has remained on the sales chart since its late 2010 release.

Pop princess Rihanna’s Loud dropped one position to No. 13 with 25,600. After 11 weeks in stores, the video vixen’s new album rests at 865,100 sold records. (SOHH Sales Wrap)

Check out the “S&M” music video down below:

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Written by S. Samuel

Steven Samuel is the co-founder of SOHH.com.

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