11 Banned Music Videos
Uncensored: Madonna, Eminem, Foo Fighters+
Artists often find themselves at the center of controversies with work that is deemed too boundary pushing. Oftentimes, censors step in and decide to ban pieces of work outright, whether that work is a book, a movie, or even a music video. Below are 11 music videos that were banned by different networks (mostly MTV) for their content. Fair warning, while most of these videos were banned for sexual content, there are a couple that were banned for their explicit violence.
Billy Idol – Cradle of Love
Why it was banned: Because Andrew Dice Clay is apparently an asshole. Let’s back up here, this video features scenes from The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, which starred Dice Clay. Dice Clay was permanently banned from MTV for his antics at the 1989 MTV Awards.
Duran Duran – Girls on Film
Why it was banned: This song may have been Duran Duran’s breakout hit, but the BBC was none too pleased with their raunchy video, and they only banned the shorter version. The “Night Version” includes nudity, so we included that here.
Eminem (ft Dido) – Stan
Why it was banned: This one needs to come with a content warning. Eminem’s video for Stan depicts an obsessed fan who takes out his frustrations with not being recognized by his idol on his wife in more and more violent ways.
Foo Fighters – Low
Why it was banned: Oh boy, in this video Dave Grohl and Jack Black play hillbilly versions of themselves. What caused a ruckus is when the two don women’s clothing and start to get it on with each other. Men hooking up with men? The horror! (Note, that was sarcasm.)
Madonna – Erotica
Why it was banned: As you might gather from the name, this video is pretty darn sexual. It features a masked dominatrix as she acts out erotic scenes. MTV pulled this one from the airwaves after playing it thrice.
Madonna – Justify My Love
Why it was banned: This video is incredibly erotic, and kinky. Its display of BDSM, bisexuality, and gasp, androgyny led to it being banned on MTV. But, fret not, in response to the ban Madonna released it as a VHS (remember those?) single and made bank.
Madonna – Like a Prayer
Why it was banned: The music video uses Catholic iconography to tell the story of a Black man wrongly accused of a crime. Critics were angered by what they deemed as Madonna depicting Jesus as a Black man, so this ban really boils down to racist viewers.
MIA – Born Free
Why it was banned: Unlike many videos on this list, this video was not banned for making people blush. Instead it was banned for its graphic violence that depicted a SWAT team shooting a young boy in the head. Brace yourself if you are going to watch.
Mötley Crüe – Girls Girls Girls
Why it was banned: This music video was filmed in a strip club, and if the name doesn’t give it away, we’ll spell it out for you. This video was banned for having (gasp) nudity. Yes, heaven forbid we let little Timmy see boobies on TV.
Nine Inch Nails – Closer
Why it was banned: Where should we start with this one? Perhaps the nudity, the religious iconography, the BDSM, the profanity laden chorus. The band did release a censored version of the video and that made its way onto MTV.
Queen – Body Language
Why it was banned: In 1982 this video from beloved rock band Queen became the first ever to be banned by MTV. Why was it banned? The video features a slew of nearly-naked men and women writhing in a locker room shower. Talk about steamy.
