Soul singer Erykah Badu is not happy about an explicit video that hit the net with her and her sister Nayrok over the weekend. In the visuals, which saw Badu covering “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” a classic made famous by Roberta Flack, she is seen naked in a tub, while her sister is shown in the more provocative takes, which includes close-up shots of naked body parts covered in glitter, milk (sperm) and red stuff that resembles blood.
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is lifted from rock band The Flaming Lips compilation album ‘The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends,’ released in April of this year. Frontman Wayne Coyne can be seen in the video strumming his guitar.
After learning about the unofficial video release, Badu took to Twitter to air out Coyne for releasing it without her permission, in addition to coining it “a poor excuse for shock and nudity.”
Check out the Twitter transcription below courtesy of NecoleBitchie:
@waynecoyne then… perhaps, next time u get an occasion to work with an artist who respects your mind/art, you should send at least a ROUGh version of the video u PLAN to release b4 u manipulate or compromise the artist’s brand by desperately releasing a poor excuse for shock and nudity that sends a convoluted message that passes as art( to some).
Even with Window Seat there was a method and thought process involved. I have not one need for publicity . I just love artistic dialogue . And just because an image is shocking does not make it art. You obviously have a misconception of who I am artistically. I don’t mind that but…
By the way you are an ass.
You did everything wrong from the on set .First:
You showed me a concept of beautiful tasteful imagery( by way of vid text messages) .
I trusted that. I was mistaken.
Then u release an unedited, unapproved version within the next few days.
That all spells 1 thing ,
Self Serving .When asked what the concept meant after u explained it , u replied ,”it doesn’t mean anything , I just want to make a great video that everyone is going to watch. “
I understood , because as an artist we all desire that. But we don’t all do it at another artist’s expense .
I attempted to resolve this respectfully by having conversations with u after the release but that too proved to be a poor excuse for art.From jump,
You begged me to sit in a tub of that other sh-t and I said naw. I refused to sit in any liquid that was not water. But Out of RESPECT for you and the artist you ‘appear’ to be, I Didn’t wanna kill your concept , wanted u to at least get it out of your head . After all, u spent your dough on studio , trip to Dallas etc.. Sooo, I invited Nayrok , my lil sis and artist, who is much more liberal ,to be subject of those other disturbing (to me ) scenes . I told u from jump that I believed your concept to be disturbing. But would give your edit a chance.You then said u would take my shots ( in clear water/ fully covered parts -seemed harmless enough) and Nayrok’s part ( which I was not present for but saw the photos and a sample scene of cornstarch dripping ) and edit them together along with cosmic, green screen images ( which no one saw) then would show me the edit.
Instead, U disrespected me by releasing pics and rough vid on the internet without my approval. (Contract breech )
That is equivalent to putting out a security camera’s images of me changing in the fitting room.
I never would have approved that tasteless, meaningless, shock motivated video .Our art is a reflection of who we are . I have no connection to those images shot in their raw version. I was interested in seeing an amazing edit that would perhaps change or alter my thoughts . Never happened .
You also did the same thing with the song itself which displays crappy “rough “vocals by me . I let it go , perhaps iiiii was missing something, I thought.
I Should have followed my first mind back in studio when recording the vocals “your way”.
( Red flag.) It was uncomfortable. For that I am at fault .
Consequently, brother, As a human I am disgusted with your what appears to be desperation and poor execution. And disregard for others . As a director I am unimpressed . As a sociologist I understand your type. As your fellow artist I am uninspired. As a woman I feel violated and underestimated.
Hope it works out for ya ,Wayne.
Really i could give a shit less.
Still love your live show tho.
And , you’re welcomed.
Lesson learned .By the way I have guested in very few videos. But I have always been given the opportunity to see the edit and contribute to it when my roll is substantial. Not this time .
I guess u feel it better to apologize than ask for permission and be refused . Hey, Love u man, but your ways are not very nice.O, And on behalf of all the artists u have manipulated or plan to manipulate, find another way.
These things have been said out of necessity.
And if you don’t like it
you can KiSS MY Glittery ASS .
O and Nayrok told me to tell u to kiss her ass too .
Almost forgot.
PeaceMs. Badu
Erykah Badu is making waves in the music industry and speaking up for herself. The singer recently fired back at Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips after he released a video of her taken without her permission. In an epic response, she told him to “kiss her glittery ass” for releasing it. This bold move has gotten people talking about the artist’s strength and resilience in standing up for what she believes in.
In this article, we’ll be exploring why Erykah took such a strong stance against Coyne’s actions, as well as discussing how other musicians have supported her through this controversy. We’ll also draw attention to how companies should start respecting their artists’ rights more when it comes to using their likenesses without consent. It’s clear that Erykah won’t stand for being disrespected, and she proves that with every action she takes.
So if you’re looking to learn more about the power behind a woman who isn’t afraid to speak out against injustice, then keep reading! You can expect a discussion on boundaries in artistry and some hard-hitting facts from those closest to the situation. Let’s dive into the drama surrounding Erykah Badu and Wayne Coyne now!
Controversy Surrounding Music Video
The release of the music video for Erykah Badu’s single “Window Seat” has caused a great deal of controversy. The video features Badu stripping off her clothes as she walks through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas and ends with her laying on the ground—mimicking President John F Kennedy’s assassination. This sparked outrage among many viewers who felt that it was disrespectful to both the president and his legacy.
In response, Wayne Coyne, lead singer of The Flaming Lips, released an edited version of the video featuring a clothed Badu instead. When asked about this decision by USA Today, Badu responded that Coyne should “kiss my glittery ass” for taking away from her creative expression. She argued that nudity is not always sexualized when done artistically and pointed out how male artists have routinely used nude women in their videos without generating similar criticism.
Badu’s opinion is shared by many others who believe Coyne made an unnecessary move in censoring her work and infringing upon her freedom of expression. It remains to be seen if other artists will continue pushing boundaries or whether they will opt for more conservative approaches in order to avoid controversy like this one.
Social Media Reactions
The controversy surrounding the music video for ‘Window Seat’ quickly spread beyond traditional media and onto social media platforms. After Coyne’s edited version of the video was released, many people took to Twitter and other sites to express their outrage at what they perceived as censorship of Badu’s artistry. Many used this opportunity to discuss how nudity is often seen differently when presented by male versus female artists. Hashtags such as #FreeBadu soon began trending on various social networks, demonstrating a strong show of support from her fans.
Meanwhile, some argued that Badu should have been more mindful of where she chose to film the video and who might be offended. Others suggested that she could have achieved her artistic goals without needing to strip down in a public space. However, those advocating for greater freedom of expression seemed to outweigh these voices of dissent in terms of overall volume.
It appears that most people felt strongly about preserving Badu’s right to create whatever kind of art she wants—censorship-free—and made sure their opinion was heard loud and clear online. The overwhelming majority view seems to be one in favor of creative freedom over moral policing, regardless if it’s done through physical or digital means.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Erykah Badu’s response to Wayne Coyne releasing a video of her without her permission has sparked a debate over celebrity rights and privacy. Many people have taken to social media to express their opinions on the matter, with some believing that Coyne was out of line for sharing the footage and others claiming that as a public figure Badu should accept criticism even if it is unwarranted. Regardless, what happened serves as an important reminder that celebrities do not always have control over how they are portrayed in the media and that we must be mindful when discussing them online.
The incident between Erykah Badu and Wayne Coyne is just one example of why respect and consideration need to be given to all individuals regardless of their fame or status. We should take this opportunity to recognize our own power in making sure everyone feels safe from unwanted attention or exploitation. As fans, I believe it is our responsibility to ensure our idols are treated fairly by upholding basic principles such as consent and accountability. At the end of the day, no one deserves to feel violated or disrespected; let us remember this before engaging in any dialogue about someone else’s life or career.
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.