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Rihanna Talks “Man Down” Controversy On 106 & Park [Video]

Rihanna Fenty
Rihanna

Rihanna stand firmly behind her “Man Down” video after it fueled controversies last week.

In a call in to BET’s 106 & Park, Rihanna discussed the creative concept behind the video shot on locations in Jamaica.

Rihanna said:

“I don’t like to make videos, I love to make an experience, and this is art with a message. This time around I wanted to explore and experiment a little bit with my acting even more than I have ever before. And I knew that only Anthony Mandler would be able to master this particular project for me. We work together on almost all of my videos and there’s a certain level of trust that goes into making a video like this one, like a mini-movie. Never play it safe, not here, ever. [laughs] We always push each other further and further out of the box. It’s gotta be deeper, it’s gotta be clever, it’s gotta be more twisted.

‘Man Down’ is a song about a girl who has committed a murder that she regrets, and is completely remorseful about. You hear her crying to her mama, saying why she did it, [that it] could’ve been somebody’s son, she didn’t mean to hurt him. Making that into a mini-movie or video, we needed to go back to why it happened. Obviously she’s not a cold-blooded killer. It had to be something so offensive, and we decided to hone in on a very serious matter that people are afraid to address. Especially if you’ve been victimized in this scenario. Rape…unfortunately it’s happening all over the world and right in our own homes. We continue to cover it up and pretend like it doesn’t happen. Girls and boys feel compelled to be embarrassed about it and hide it from everyone, including their teachers, their parents, and their friends. That only continues to empower the abusers.

I personally don’t condone violence or murder at all. I’ve been abused in the past and you don’t see me running around killing people in my spare time. [chuckles] I just want girls to be careful. I want..you know, have fun, be flirtatious, be sassy, be innocent and sweet. Be everything that you are, but just try not to be naive. And that’s not coming from a parent but a peer. I’m one of you guys and as much as you don’t want to believe it, we go through the same stuff. Don’t be afraid to talk about it.”

One Comment

  1. Divagal from Brooklyn

    The Chynn sisters, still have a long way to go before they reach that international cross-over as Rihanna. How come they are not speaking out on all those dance hall degrading “daggering” videos that disrespect Jamaican women.   I’m quite shore all dem hungry belly people (extras) in the video were paid, so they earned a day or two meals for their families.  Rihanna
    ‘s Loud  CD/Album is almost a year old, which means anyone who bought
    her CD, must have listen to “Man Down” before the video was shot.  The
    words of the song did not change to shoot the video, she just performed
    the script the way it was written to give a visual  effect of the song,
    Man Down to her audience.  Madonna made a video for ‘Like a Virgin” and
    Pappa don’t Preach (abortion) and the Catholic Church, and Pope made a
    b*tch about it, MTV did not stop playing those videos due to public or
    political opinions. Whether Rihanna made the video in Harlem, Barbados
    or LA, the script would have been the same, just different venue.  Male
    Rappers been having half-naked women in their videos bouncing their
    a$$es and drinking liquor for the past 30 years, but the minute a famous
    female artist sings about sexual a$$ault, the entire USA-media is ready
    to attack her.  Watch her CD go triple-platinum now in the next couple
    weeks, due to curiosity folks.  LOL