5 Most Controversial And Bizarre MVs of All Time

Musicians sometimes use the production of a music video as little more than an excuse to slap on some makeup and play their most recent hit in front of an audience of one: the camera. Certain persons use the situation to shock their audience with outrageous statements.
Videos deemed offensive, profane, or just terrifying have become historical footnotes. These videos have generated controversy for the artists who created them and have sparked passionate debate among the general public.

1. “Stan” – Eminem

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Running for around nine minutes, "Stan" follows an Eminem devotee named Stan and his pregnant fiancée, who begins to doubt his unwavering devotion to Slim Shady. Real-life Eminem fan and actor Devon Sawa's character then put his fiancée in the trunk and drives off a bridge.
This is serious business, but it's just another day at the office for the man who reigns as the king of controversy. The video's content resulted in widespread censorship after its initial distribution. MTV and Fuse tried to censor the video because of its graphic depiction of a fan's obsessive behavior. However, "Stan" was coined in response to the song and its accompanying music video.

2. “Blurred Lines” – Robin Thicke

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For various reasons, this song by Robin Thicke caused a major stir in 2013. The video was doomed from the start, what with accusations that it glorified rap culture and that it was too close to Marvin Gaye's "Had to Give It Up," as well as the fact that it featured three scantily clad models dancing around three fully clothed males (Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I.). A balloon banner in the backdrop reads, "Robin Thicke has a large d**k," which adds to the overall unsettling nature of the picture.

3. “Famous” – Kanye West

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Taylor Swift and Kayne West's feud, which "Famous" represented, has now been put to rest. I feel like me and Taylor might still have s*x / Why? / to paraphrase the equally divisive words of the song. The video for "I made that bitch famous" shows the rapper in bed with wax versions of several celebrities, including Swift.

4. “Like a Prayer” – Madonna

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Even if the visuals of Madonna's "Like a Prayer" video seem mild today, they were shocking to many viewers back in 1989. A Black Christ-like figure was sexualized through burning crosses, which sparked outrage among religious groups and advertising firms. Pepsi, with whom Madonna had a contract at the time, and the Vatican were among the first to denounce the artist publicly.

5. “Heart-Shaped Box” – Nirvana

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Never one to sit back and let things go as they are, Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box" video was a radical departure from the norm. This video is a textbook example of nihilism in the grunge period. The movie didn't shy away from controversial subjects, including images such as a skeletal guy hanging from a crucifix while wearing a Christmas hat and a lady plucking babies from a tree. Despite the uproar, this music video was MTV's most-watched that year.