Music

7 of the Most Controversial Music Videos of All Time

From Madonna to Lil Nas X, these artists caused a big stir in their visuals. 

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Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion in "WAP" (2020)

Recently, Lil Nas X sparked controversy with the release of his music video for "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)." The video featured the rapper descending into Hell on a stripper pole and giving the Devil a lap dance. Lil Nas X is no stranger to viral moments, and controversy in music visuals is not a strange occurence in the music world - in fact, it's what puts a lot of artists on the map. From overtly sexual performances to condemning the Catholic Church, here are some of the most infamous controversial music videos of the past few decades.

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Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) (Official Video)

Madonna, “Like A Prayer” (1989)

To say Madonna's music video for her hit '80s song "Like A Prayer" was controversial would be an understatement. Madonna is depicted in risqué scenes with Jesus and dancing among burning crosses. Safe to say the Catholic Church was not happy about the song and its visuals.

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Madonna - Like A Prayer [Official Music Video]

Nirvana, "Heart-Shaped Box" (1993)

From feces to Klu Klux Klan imagery, Nirvana's 1993 music video for "Heart-Shaped Box" and its grotesque imagery shocked its viewers.

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Nirvana - Heart-Shaped Box

Christina Aguilera, “Dirrty” (2002)

Today, Aguilera’s iconic “Dirrrty” look may be a regular celebrity Halloween costume and its raunchiness may not hit as hard as it did back then compared to music videos now. But back in the early 2000s, Aguilera’s music video was met with commotion among fans, and complaints from critics. Time magazine mocked Aguilera’s appearance in the video, saying she looked like she had come “direct from an intergalactic hooker convention. (She earned that extra r).”

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Christina Aguilera - Dirrty (VIDEO) ft. Redman

Tyler, The Creator "Yonkers" (2011)

Tyler, The Creator's song "Yonkers" took shots at just about everyone, from Bruno Mars to Stevie Wonder. His music video lived up to the controversy sparked in his lyrics, with unsettling visuals that depict Tyler's silhouette as he vomits, eats a cockroach, and stages his suicide.

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Tyler The Creator - Yonkers

Rihanna "S&M" (2011)

With lyrics about chains and whips and "sex in the air," the music video for "S&M" was expectedly risqué. Along with fetish props and a sex doll, Rihanna leads Perez Hilton around on a dog leash. The sexual subject matter caused the video to be banned in 11 countries.

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Rihanna - S&M

Kanye West, “Famous” (2016)

In typical Kanye West fashion, the video for “Famous” caused a stir. The video depicts wax figures of nude celebrities in bed, including long term feud Taylor Swift as well as other people like Donald Trump. 

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Kanye West - Famous

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, "WAP" (2020)

"WAP" undoubtedly made a huge splash in 2020. Not only did the lyrics push the envelope—enough to provoke conservative Presidential candidates, Fox news anchors, and send the Internet into a tailspin—but the accompanying music video added fuel to the fire. Overt sexiness was on full display, and even Kylie Jenner made an appearence. That just about broke the Internet.

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Cardi B - WAP feat. Megan Thee Stallion [Official Music Video]

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