Critics Try to Shoot Down Rihanna's Graphic 'Man Down' Video

Had no idea that there is so much despicable lyrics out there .... as "jthfacts" comments below. I just what to say that violence is bad, especially graphic violence. In my opinion, I don't think Rihanna is a potential murderer as a friend of mine does, who wrote in, but I do think she needs to reconsider what kinds of videos she arranges for everyone to see. This videos beginning is deplorable and was designed for shock value with no consideration given to it's psychological affect. Bad, bad bad.

Throughout the video Rihanna says that she knows it's wrong what she did, and asks herself why did she do this act of violence. She even says towards the end of the video- “O Lord A MERCY- NOW I AM A CRIMINAL”. She then says “Ask the judge to give me Minimal.” She shows a conscious, even after being a victim of rape.

Why is that black men can make video after video calling black women ******, bitches and any other name they want while always saying what they'll do to their “bitch”? And, most of these videos are filled with violence : gangs, organized crime, drug selling, etc.. These videos have made millionaires of many rap artists. What does Jay-Z sing about in “99 Problems”? “I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain’t one”! Jay-Z has written about “pimpin”, “thuggin” and on and on. What does Kanye West sing about in “Gold Digger”. Now of course during the song could have been about any women, but in the end the lyrics are “ And leave your ass for a white girl.” So, hmm, I guess black women have to be the women to be labeled “gold-diggers”. Meanwhile every one knows the second a fool black man makes enough money in his mind, he is going to abandon his race and marry a white woman. And of course the “Lucifer” song that Kanye wrote for Jay-Z, where Jay-Z says “THEY GONNA MURDER ME SO I GOTTA MURDER THEM FIRST.” While the chorus whispers “SATAN, SATAN, SATAN” and sings “SON OF THE MORNING” (THE DEVIL).-I'M GONNA CHASE YOU OUTTA EARTH”. He sings that they killed his friend, so he believes they are going to kill him. He also says he is from the “MURDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD WHERE WE Murder IS FOR CAPITAL”. He does sing that he knows it's wrong, but then he ends the song my saying “IF MY HEART IS FULL OF THE REVENGE , BLAME IT ON THE 'SON OF THE MORNING'!”

Why was this OK? Why didn't he turn to the FINISHER (JESUS CHRIST)? (Not that Marvel Comic Book version of the Finisher, who was an assassin!)

Why was it OK for Jay-Z to sing “JESUS CAN'T SAVE YOU!!! LIFE BEGINS WHEN THE CHURCH ENDS” in the song “Empire State of Mind”?

Artistic Freedom? Maybe -but why this way? Why use the Words of Religion to promote violence?

JAY-Z HAS SURPASSED MANY OF ELVIS' RECORDS IN SALES!!!!

I am not a fan of Rihanna's, but why is this video treated so differently from others that have an act of violence based on a prior act of violence? Women are being abused all over the world-even today!!!Murder is wrong, but isn't violence against women wrong as well??
Where is the outrage over what is happening to women in our world everywhere!!!!!

YOU TUBE: LUCIFER JAY Z
YOU TUBE: JAY Z DISSES JESUS CHRIST (pastorJustinofP4cm)
YOUTUBE: KANYE WEST SAY HE SOLD HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL (pastorJustinofP4cm)

Wow I guess all of you listened to the song. You all are probably the types that talk behind peoples' back. Are you guys being bullies. I wonder if she wasn't black or dated Chris Brown would this happen. Lady Gaga does the same thing. Ke$ha, Teirra Marie, Drake, Enimen, Lil Wayne. I can go on. If you dont Like the video dont watch it. BET should air it at later times. I have children And I watched with my 16 year old son and he loved it but also said the video should be at a later time. We all sit and judge. There are some young boys and girls out there that dont have anyone to relate to or even have a chance to have someone speak for them and say its okay tell someone. Everyone has free speech. I think she is trying to speak for girls who are the victims and the aggressors. Why be so hard on this young lady who has a chance to make a wrong she and Chris Brown did into a postive for young teenagers that are going through the same thing. She isnt endorsing murder, the song is about a girl who makes a bad decision instead of telling her mother. My friend was raped, she got pregnant. Her parents are against abortion. So now those grandparents have that child but they dont have their daughter. Sharnell committed suicide 6 months ago. That child looks just like his father. I wished Sharnell would of told me, I would of been there. Revenge is not right but..................................anyway the guy that raped Sharnell got 6 years he will be out in 2. Justice way to go. Im not juding you all but dont rip Rihanna or Chris Brown (they're young). They both are expressing themselves and are very sorry. Rihanna's song. Please you all forget the video. Listen to her song. Close your eyes and just listen. I did. RIP Sharnell W. I love you.

Just another piece of crap that got lucky singing. Best way to send all thse thugs a message is to not buy the garbage that they try to sell.

I vote "pull"

The whole time she's singing it's about feeling horrible about taking a life, rapist or not, and that she should have gone about things a different way, a *better* way. Did no one actually *listen* to this song?

I agree that the video should be pulled and not aired...I also agree Rihanna had no business making that type of video in the first place. That is a very poor way to get message of what she calls " Female Safety - Awareness " out there. There is enough of this garbage out there with her adding to it... I say yank it from airing... And those music video stations that air this garbage shame on them as well for promoting and supporting that garbage...I mean really what the heck was she thinking... I am sorry she went through what she did, but you know what two wrongs do not make a right.

she had no buisness making a vidio loke that for young people to see.. There is enough of this type of stuff going on every day and shown on the T.V. without making a vidio to be viewed by our young people to go out and spend their money on. ... Too much violence. Why wood she want to do something that could cause more than what we already have in this wicked world? She has got to be sick in the head.

This video endorses MURDER. What's even worse is the setting that the murder is shown in ........ a crowded public place where any innocent passerby could have been shot and killed if she missed her target. This is a form of TERRORISM and has nothing to do with anything good. Rihanna shows that she not only has a crap-vat of inner rage, but also that she is a potential murderer! For her to go through all the effort and expense to put this crap out proves it ..... and it does influence people ..... these day's there are too many people on the edge, and a video like this may be the final nudge to do horrible murderous things. Now she taking her anger out on parent's groups and people who are offended by her angry crap. Rihanna .... go and have some deep psychological therapy before you kill someone or cause someone else to hurt or kill someone. She deserved to be put down and criticized and this video should be removed and never shown again.

Also, people like; cpneno9221 and desertBSa (who commented) ---- don't tell us it's the parent's fault if their kids see this unabashed violent crap ------ it is nearly impossible to stop kids or people from viewing this crap these days with iPads, laptops, Smart Phones, TV'S and YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace .... the list goes on. Blaming the parents is the standard COP-OUT these days for jerks (who call themselves "artists") who stick their violent ideas in the media stream (like turds in a river!) for all to see! This video should have never made it "to market" ..... shame on Rihanna and all who support this mind pollution!

Rihanna is the worst example for young girls. All her songs are about rough sex and liking it. Unfortunately her songs beats are infectious and some people don't hear the message. Chris Brown did wrong, what he should have done was get away from her. She is poison for the young girls.

I'm a dad of two of them. And a teacher of many.