26 January 2011

Family First NZ is joining other groups in Australia and the US in calling for a ban on the upcoming release of Kayne West's hit song "Monster".

"HipHopConnection.com has leaked a video teaser for the Kanye West hit song "Monster", featuring images of eroticised violence against women," says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. "The full six minute video includes dead women, clad in lingerie, hanging by chains around their necks; West making sexual moves toward dead or drugged women propped up in a bed; West rapping while casually holding a woman's severed head that is still dripping blood; and a naked dead or drugged woman laying sprawled on a sofa."

"The music industry's portrayals of women being abused, objectified, sexualized, and victimised being valid forms of entertainment are unacceptable."

"Some will argue for freedom of speech and that it is simply 'art', but freedom of expression should never be at the expense of the safety and welfare of women and families, and the attitudes and stereotypes which may be normalised through this type of offensive material," says Mr McCoskrie.

Family First is calling on the Chief Censor to ban the video, and for Sky TV's music channels and other music shows on free-to-air channels to refuse to broadcast it.

There is also an official petition site and people are being asked to register their support for the ban of the video.

Other groups supporting the call are Australian groups Collective Shout, Adios Barbie, and the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women International, and the US-based Media Watch.

ENDS

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