|
Madonna pulls anti-war video
02/04/2003 09:58 - (SA)
Los Angeles - Madonna has pulled the US release of her new video containing anti-war images and a grenade being lobbed at a look-alike of US President George W. Bush as US celebrities come under growing public pressure not to criticise the war in Iraq.
The London-based superstar's decision to cancel the explosive video's release came amid growing sensitivity in the United States towards perceived unpatriotic reaction to the war in Iraq by celebrities and musicians.
Madonna announced her decision on Tuesday saying the video to accompany her American Life song was made before the start of the invasion of Iraq.
"I do not believe it is appropriate to air it at this time," she said in a statement issued by her publicist.
"Due to the volatile state of the world and out of sensitivity and respect to the armed forces, who I support and pray for, I do not want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video," she added.
The singer, who has often been at the centre of firestorms over her musical criticism of the Catholic Church and the sexual content of her videos, is seen in her latest clip wearing a fascist-style military uniform.
She appears on a fashion runway against a backdrop of military helicopters flying low over a desert and fighter jets screaming through the air, images that are mixed with forlorn looking Muslim children and the US flag.
Images of mushroom clouds
A peace sign is displayed prominently on the right hand side of the screen, while images of mushroom clouds and missile launchers pervade the clip.
At the end of the video, Madonna uses a strong expletive and pulls the pin on a grenade and lobs it at a Bush look-alike, who grabs the grenade, which turns out to be a cigarette lighter, and lights a large cigar with it.
The lyrics of the song also mock the "American dream" - including the obsession with fashionable cars, take-away coffee, stars and the body beautiful culture - while asserting the right to freedom of speech.
The song American Life is the title track from Madonna's latest album which is due for release on April 22.
The singer denied in February that she was "anti-Bush" or "pro-Iraq" and insisted she was simply "pro-peace" and against the horrors of war after a media brouhaha erupted over the video.
Public pressure
The video is the most high-profile entertainment industry casualty of the war in Iraq as Hollywood and music stars come under public pressure not to criticise the war or the US leadership during a time of conflict.
The chart-topping pop-country music group Dixie Chicks came under fire from the US public and state lawmakers after lead singer Natalie Maines said she was "ashamed" that Bush hailed from her native Texas.
Sales of the group's new album "Home" plunged by more than 40% when radio stations across the United States - which are critical to a musician's commercial success - banned the trio's music.
Experts said Madonna's decision to cancel her video's release was likely influenced by fears that her career too could be hurt by the expression of anti-war sentiments during a period of heightened US nationalism.
"She is after all a business woman and she has seen what has happened to the Dixie Chicks and there has been a definitive impact on their record sales, on their concert dates," said politics and communications professor Sherry Bebitch Jeffe of the University of Southern California
"It has not been a pleasant time for the Dixie Chicks. I can't imagine that she hasn't taken that into consideration," she added.
Hate mail
Anti-war activist and actor Martin Sheen has said he has received hate mail calling for his sacking from his role playing the US president on the television series "The West Wing" because of his vocal anti-war views.
And documentary maker Michael Moore, who violently attacked Bush and the war during at the Oscar's last week, saw his speech greeted by a hail of jeers from the audience and by widespread denunciation in the popular press.
On Tuesday, Hollywood's Warner Bros studios announced it was pulling advertisements for its comedy What a Girl Wants which show the heroine making a peace sign while wearing a T-shirt bearing the US flag.
- AFX
|
South Africa
