‘It’s kind of a prized place in my house, the downstairs toilet,’ he quips backstage about Best Villain award. By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Tom Felton backstage at the 2011 Movie Awards Photo: MTV News Tom Felton might not have been interrupted by Mark Wahlberg during his MTV Movie Awards acceptance speech for Best Villain this year, but that doesn’t make receiving the award any less special for him. “Thank you very much, it’s always exciting to be here,” he said in his acceptance speech. “This is very cool. This will look very nice in my downstairs toilet.” When MTV News caught up with Felton backstage after his second straight win, he clarified that his downstairs toilet actually is a pretty important location in his home. “It’s kind of a prized place in my house, the downstairs toilet,” Felton deadpanned. “Consider it an honor.” Though he technically came back to defend the Best Villain title for “Harry Potter,” he said the real reason is because he hadn’t yet seen any of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” yet and wanted to catch the sneak peek at the MTV Movie Awards . “That’s half the reason I’m here,” he said with a laugh. Since Felton hasn’t seen any of the footage yet, he couldn’t tease how “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” would look in 3-D, but he did say it’s something he’s anticipating. “I’m very excited,” he said. “I’m not sure if that’s going to add or subtract to my screen presence.” MTV News has all of the highlights from the 2011 MTV Movie Awards . Relive the best moments, watch red-carpet interviews with your favorite stars and read all about what went on behind the scenes on the big night. Related Videos Backstage At The 2011 MTV Movie Awards 2011 Movie Awards: Most Talked About Moments Related Photos 2011 Movie Awards: Backstage Moments
Sneak peeks from ‘Breaking Dawn’ and ‘Deathly Hallows’ make a splash at the big show. By Gil Kaufman The cast of “Twilight” at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards Photo: John Shearer/ WireImage Hollywood may have just found the ultimate killer mega-sequel on Sunday night (June 5) when “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” ran the table at the MTV Movie Awards , taking home five big ones, including Best Movie and Best Female and Male performance wins for stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. Not too shabby for a bunch of undead vampires, buff werewolves and the lady who loves them. In the process, the kids from rainy Forks, Washington, nearly blanked the also multiply-nominated cast of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” surely giving someone in Hollywood a great idea to stage the ultimate fan-freakout-fantasy-world showdown once the two series wrap up. In the meantime, fans made do with lots of Pattinson and Stewart on Sunday night, along with generous helpings of Taylor Lautner and more Arnold Schwarzenegger illegitimate-kid jokes than anyone imagined from host Jason Sudeikis. With a set that looked like a backlot fantasia , with a ring of fake grass, crystal towers, caves, butterflies, LED lights and glittery, hanging jewels, the stage at the Gibson Amphitheatre was a nod to the “Lord of the Rings” and the fantasy world of movies. And with their hands all over each other, “Friends with Benefits” co-stars Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake proudly handed out the night’s first award, Best Male Performance, to “Twilight” star Pattinson, who beat out love-triangle rival Lautner for the honor. “I really didn’t think I was going to win,” said the perpetually self-effacing undead star, who got a smile but no congratulatory, well, anything, from co-star Stewart. “This is kind of embarrassing now. Zac Efron was crying and stuff in that clip. … Thanks for showing all your support to the movies. See you next year!” Was there any doubt whether Tom Felton would take home the Best Villain award for his truly terrifying performance of blond baddie Draco Malfoy in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”? Flashing an uncharacteristic smile, the nice English lad said, “This will look very nice in my downstairs toilet,” thanking fans for a decade of support and promising that the final installment will be worth the wait. Poo Cocktail Supreme , a sawed-off arm, the world literally exploding all around you and the cuticle from hell: All worthy nominees, but it was Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never” 3-D concert film that took the Best Jaw Dropping Moment prize. Though it looked like the Biebs wouldn’t be on hand to take home the honor, he made a surprise appearance and thanked his director, manager and family. “But most of all I want to thank my fans. I love you,” said Bieber, sporting white jeans and a blue blazer over a black T-shirt. It wasn’t all just movie magic, though. Funnyman Jim Carrey promised to bring some high-tech shenanigans to the proceedings, and he didn’t disappoint. The “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” star showed up in a green-screen suit that featured a number of high-tech images, but mostly just dogs humping. He was on hand to introduce the Foo Fighters, who lit the stage up with a blistering performance of their new single “Walk,” with a set that included six strobing movie-set klieg lights. Alas, Potter’s Death Eaters had nothing on Bryce Dallas Howard and Xavier Samuel’s showdown with Pattinson in “Eclipse,” which also won for Best Fight. Pattinson bragged about winning the filmed fight, even as Howard apologized for trying to hurt him. “It’s fine. I ripped your head off … and now you’re pregnant!” he said awkwardly, as Stewart cradled her face in her hands in embarrassment at his crack about their co-star’s bulging baby belly. You kind of couldn’t go wrong with the Best Kiss category , especially if you’re on Team Edward. But really? Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman didn’t snag the traditionally Sapphic-friendly smooch trophy? Nope, not when RPattz and KStew are in the mix. Taking the stage for the third time, Pattinson sheepishly said he felt bad because he, well, didn’t really feel like re-creating his smooch with Stewart from “Eclipse.” “You don’t want to kiss me, do you?” he said to Stewart. “Well, I mean, it’s been a long time, and … I think we should finally go for it,” she replied nervously, as the camera cut to a totally psyched Selena Gomez. “There’s someone else in the audience I think will appreciate it a little more,” Pattinson answered, before sprinting out to the crowd and laying a big, wet one on Lautner’s mouth , forehead and hand. When he tried to snag the award from Stewart’s hands, she grabbed it away and he grunted, “I wanna take you backstage!” in what amounts to PDA for these two. Luckily for the nominees in the Best Line from a Movie category , there were no quotable muggles or vampires in the mix, so you can be sure 7-year-old “Grown Ups” star Alexys Nycole Sanchez was going to celebrate her win later that night by getting totally “chocolate wasted.” This is so cool!” squeaked the adorable moppet before reprising her money line. The ladies in the Best Female Performance race were not so lucky, as Stewart beat out the Emmas (Stone and Watson), Jennifer Aniston and “Black Swan” star Portman. The publicity-shy actress, wearing a red leather minidress festooned with safety pins, said, “Oh, man, this is silly. It feels very incredible to be so completely supported by everybody that voted for me, it actually really, truly does. Thank you. We have obviously the greatest fans ever.” The luminous Reese Witherspoon was presented with this year’s MTV Generation Award , preceded by her “Water for Elephants” co-star Pattinson, giving a touching, and quite salty, tribute to the actress, who’s been his movie mother and lover. “I’m just so lucky in my career and my life,” said Witherspoon, who kindly corrected the punch line to one of Pattinson’s most off-color jokes, while praising her chemistry with “Sweet Home Alabama” co-star Patrick Dempsey. “I just want to say to all the girls out there: I know it’s cool to be bad, I get it … but it’s also possible to make it in Hollywood without a reality show … so for all the girls out there, it’s possible to be a good girl.” Related Videos Backstage At The 2011 MTV Movie Awards Amazing Exclusives From The MTV Movie Awards ‘Twilight’ Stars Take Over 2011 MTV Movie Awards Related Photos ‘Twilight’ At The 2011 MTV Movie Awards Exclusive Movie Props From The 2011 MTV Movie Awards Related Artists Justin Bieber
Sneak peeks from ‘Breaking Dawn’ and ‘Deathly Hallows’ make a splash at the big show. By Gil Kaufman The cast of “Twilight” at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards Photo: John Shearer/ WireImage Hollywood may have just found the ultimate killer mega-sequel on Sunday night (June 5) when “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” ran the table at the MTV Movie Awards , taking home five big ones, including Best Movie and Best Female and Male performance wins for stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. Not too shabby for a bunch of undead vampires, buff werewolves and the lady who loves them. In the process, the kids from rainy Forks, Washington, nearly blanked the also multiply-nominated cast of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” surely giving someone in Hollywood a great idea to stage the ultimate fan-freakout-fantasy-world showdown once the two series wrap up. In the meantime, fans made do with lots of Pattinson and Stewart on Sunday night, along with generous helpings of Taylor Lautner and more Arnold Schwarzenegger illegitimate-kid jokes than anyone imagined from host Jason Sudeikis. With a set that looked like a backlot fantasia , with a ring of fake grass, crystal towers, caves, butterflies, LED lights and glittery, hanging jewels, the stage at the Gibson Amphitheatre was a nod to the “Lord of the Rings” and the fantasy world of movies. And with their hands all over each other, “Friends with Benefits” co-stars Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake proudly handed out the night’s first award, Best Male Performance, to “Twilight” star Pattinson, who beat out love-triangle rival Lautner for the honor. “I really didn’t think I was going to win,” said the perpetually self-effacing undead star, who got a smile but no congratulatory, well, anything, from co-star Stewart. “This is kind of embarrassing now. Zac Efron was crying and stuff in that clip. … Thanks for showing all your support to the movies. See you next year!” Was there any doubt whether Tom Felton would take home the Best Villain award for his truly terrifying performance of blond baddie Draco Malfoy in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”? Flashing an uncharacteristic smile, the nice English lad said, “This will look very nice in my downstairs toilet,” thanking fans for a decade of support and promising that the final installment will be worth the wait. Poo Cocktail Supreme , a sawed-off arm, the world literally exploding all around you and the cuticle from hell: All worthy nominees, but it was Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never” 3-D concert film that took the Best Jaw Dropping Moment prize. Though it looked like the Biebs wouldn’t be on hand to take home the honor, he made a surprise appearance and thanked his director, manager and family. “But most of all I want to thank my fans. I love you,” said Bieber, sporting white jeans and a blue blazer over a black T-shirt. It wasn’t all just movie magic, though. Funnyman Jim Carrey promised to bring some high-tech shenanigans to the proceedings, and he didn’t disappoint. The “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” star showed up in a green-screen suit that featured a number of high-tech images, but mostly just dogs humping. He was on hand to introduce the Foo Fighters, who lit the stage up with a blistering performance of their new single “Walk,” with a set that included six strobing movie-set klieg lights. Alas, Potter’s Death Eaters had nothing on Bryce Dallas Howard and Xavier Samuel’s showdown with Pattinson in “Eclipse,” which also won for Best Fight. Pattinson bragged about winning the filmed fight, even as Howard apologized for trying to hurt him. “It’s fine. I ripped your head off … and now you’re pregnant!” he said awkwardly, as Stewart cradled her face in her hands in embarrassment at his crack about their co-star’s bulging baby belly. You kind of couldn’t go wrong with the Best Kiss category , especially if you’re on Team Edward. But really? Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman didn’t snag the traditionally Sapphic-friendly smooch trophy? Nope, not when RPattz and KStew are in the mix. Taking the stage for the third time, Pattinson sheepishly said he felt bad because he, well, didn’t really feel like re-creating his smooch with Stewart from “Eclipse.” “You don’t want to kiss me, do you?” he said to Stewart. “Well, I mean, it’s been a long time, and … I think we should finally go for it,” she replied nervously, as the camera cut to a totally psyched Selena Gomez. “There’s someone else in the audience I think will appreciate it a little more,” Pattinson answered, before sprinting out to the crowd and laying a big, wet one on Lautner’s mouth , forehead and hand. When he tried to snag the award from Stewart’s hands, she grabbed it away and he grunted, “I wanna take you backstage!” in what amounts to PDA for these two. Luckily for the nominees in the Best Line from a Movie category , there were no quotable muggles or vampires in the mix, so you can be sure 7-year-old “Grown Ups” star Alexys Nycole Sanchez was going to celebrate her win later that night by getting totally “chocolate wasted.” This is so cool!” squeaked the adorable moppet before reprising her money line. The ladies in the Best Female Performance race were not so lucky, as Stewart beat out the Emmas (Stone and Watson), Jennifer Aniston and “Black Swan” star Portman. The publicity-shy actress, wearing a red leather minidress festooned with safety pins, said, “Oh, man, this is silly. It feels very incredible to be so completely supported by everybody that voted for me, it actually really, truly does. Thank you. We have obviously the greatest fans ever.” The luminous Reese Witherspoon was presented with this year’s MTV Generation Award , preceded by her “Water for Elephants” co-star Pattinson, giving a touching, and quite salty, tribute to the actress, who’s been his movie mother and lover. “I’m just so lucky in my career and my life,” said Witherspoon, who kindly corrected the punch line to one of Pattinson’s most off-color jokes, while praising her chemistry with “Sweet Home Alabama” co-star Patrick Dempsey. “I just want to say to all the girls out there: I know it’s cool to be bad, I get it … but it’s also possible to make it in Hollywood without a reality show … so for all the girls out there, it’s possible to be a good girl.” Related Videos Backstage At The 2011 MTV Movie Awards Amazing Exclusives From The MTV Movie Awards ‘Twilight’ Stars Take Over 2011 MTV Movie Awards Related Photos ‘Twilight’ At The 2011 MTV Movie Awards Exclusive Movie Props From The 2011 MTV Movie Awards Related Artists Justin Bieber
‘It’s crazy how a phrase like that can change somebody’s mentality,’ Esco says about album title’s good vibes. By Rob Markman Nas Photo: MTV Nas is living the good life. After the Queensbridge MC revealed the title of his 10th studio album over the weekend, he caught up with DJ Envy of MTV’s Sucker Free and dropped more details about Life Is Good. “Life is also good; the moment you think it ain’t good, it’s over,” Nas said. With his 1994 debut album, titled Illmatic, Nas introduced new slang; he sparked debate with his 2006 album title, Hip Hop Is Dead ; and then he started a whirlwind of controversy when he first proposed to name his 2008 LP N—–. And for this upcoming project, Nas said the title has meaning too, a reflection of his positive outlook on life. “Look at the life we’re in, look at the world we’re in — I just think people need to realize the blessings. Let’s stop worrying about the dark side,” he said. “The end result is life is good, and it’s crazy how a phrase like that can change somebody’s mentality.” Nas even revealed the name of the album’s first single, “Nasty,” which is a play on his original moniker, Nasty Nas. Still, even though he’s giving a nod to his lyrical beginnings, the rapper promises that the track will fit the times. “We ain’t going backwards, we’re staying forward though,” he said. Life Is Good isn’t finished (Nas said it’s “almost there”), but it will be a very personal work. Nas insisted he won’t shy away from addressing what he’s been through in the past few years, including his divorce from singer Kelis . “This album is just a piece of my blood, flesh and bones. This album right here is like — this is the one. They all are the ones, I love all my joints, but this one right here is, ‘Life is good.’ I’m letting a lot go on this. I’m happy that I’m here, man. I’m just a survivor and I look at a lot of us as survivors,” he said. “Everything is addressed; it’s all life. No matter what, at the end of the day, everything is a blessing. I’m a learner, I learn from my experiences.” And it’s all good. Are you excited to hear new music from Nas? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Sucker Free Exclusives | Interviews, Sneak Peeks, More Related Artists Nas
At the country/pop star’s urging, Stone talks about her secret baking skills during MTV’s Sneak Peek Week. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Emma Stone Photo: MTV News Emma Stone and Taylor Swift are best gal pals. Stone has opened up about Swift in the past, revealing that the superstar “has such a sick sense of humor,” and when Stone sat down for a Q&A about “The Help” during MTV’s Sneak Peek Week , she divulged a bit more about their relationship. So is Stone digging Swift’s latest album, Speak Now ? “I am indeed. I was lucky enough to hear it pretty early on, so it’s so exciting for it to be out and own the songs instead of just be singing them [in my head],” she dished, sharing that just because Swift is one of the biggest pop stars in the world doesn’t mean she’s at all critical of her friends who can’t sing as well as her. “Taylor’s a pretty normal girl,” Stone said. ” … She’s not [like], ‘I am one of the world’s most popular singers.’ ” Stone’s kind words came shortly after an email was read to her from her superstar pal who wanted to know more about her love of baking. “I’ve been baking at least once a day,” she shared, revealing some of the sweet treats she’s been making the past few months. While she’s got some sweet skills when it comes to confections, when she attempts to bake for a large group, the results aren’t as delicious. “I made 60 biscuits once for a party,” she said. “They didn’t turn out so great, though. I think in bulk I’m a little subpar.” Will wizards, vampires or dream thieves steal the 2011 MTV Movie Awards ? Find out June 5, when the 20th annual show airs live at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Tune in at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT that night for the “America’s Best Dance Crew” finale and Movie Awards pre-show, loaded with live action from the red carpet, exclusive movie clips and a special edition of “After Hours.” To get into the magical movie mood, it’s Sneak Peek Week — five days of exclusives and interviews with the casts of “Fright Night,” “Horrible Bosses” and more. Check out everything there is to know about Sneak Peek Week, the Movie Awards and the pre-show at MovieAwards.MTV.com ! Related Videos MTV Sneak Peek Week: ‘The Help’ Related Artists Taylor Swift
‘I don’t think viewers are necessarily getting healthy messages from it,’ one expert says. By Gil Kaufman Rihanna Photo: Steven Lawton/ FilmMagic Like any good piece of art, Rihanna ‘s controversial “Man Down” video has elicited a wide variety of opinions, running the gamut from condemnation for its bloodshed to praise for its attempt to grapple with the complex issue of violence against women. “It strikes me first and foremost that she is working out personal issues through her art,” said Terry O’Neill, national president of the National Organization for Women, who lauded the singer’s talent and stressed that she did not find the video exploitive at all. A number of groups slammed the clip after its premiere, taking issue with the opening scene, in which a hidden Rihanna is shown shooting an unarmed man in the back of the head in the middle of a crowded train station. Viewers later learn that the act was in retaliation for a previous sexual assault. ” ‘Man Down’ is an inexcusable, shock-only, shoot-and-kill theme song,” said Industry Ears co-founder Paul Porter, a former programming director at BET, where the video debuted earlier this week and remains in rotation. But O’Neill said that like Rihanna’s collaboration with Eminem on the “Love the Way You Lie” video — which also tackled issues of domestic abuse — “Man Down” is another example of Rihanna “trying to grapple with the multifaceted nature of violence against women as an artist. Obviously violence is not the way to solve anything and both videos depict violence. In one, it’s a man who feels justified in committing violence against a woman and in the other a woman who feels instantly very remorseful in her killing.” For O’Neill, “Man Down” does not cross the line into portraying violence in an effort to titillate. “One of the main messages it leaves you with is violence breeds more violence and everyone can see that and also detect some problems with that,” said Stephanie Nilva, Executive Director of Day One, New York’s leading teen relationship abuse-focused organization. “I respect the fact that Rihanna is trying to draw attention to these issues, but I don’t think viewers are necessarily getting healthy messages from it.” Another concern for Nilva, given the implied sexual abuse in the clip, is the underlying impression that young women who dress a certain way or go dancing in clubs are naive or should feel at risk. That too, she said, sends a muddled message about sexual assault. “What it doesn’t do is open up a discussion about how men’s violence is frequently about controlling women and not about violence they’ve experienced at that person’s hands,” she said. After posting a defense of the clip, Rihanna got plenty of support from her fans on Twitter , where the comments included such sentiments as “it’s really ironic how women r always exploited n videos … we watch women be raped & murdered. Now a woman flips the coin & look!” Another fan wrote, “You opened the eyes of all women living under a dark cloud that needed a voice. ‘Man Down’ is the voice. I love you.” Others called it “inspiring” and praised Rihanna for tackling the issue of sexual abuse, writing, ” ‘Man Down’ video portrays REAL situations that can happen to ANYONE! Do yoo thing ri!” Rihanna also pleaded with her fans to stop making threats against members of the PTC, writing, “We love it, they don’t … that is all, and the world keeps turning.” Given the message of empowerment some of Rihanna’s fans appear to have taken from the video, Nilva noted that one of the messages Day One imparts to young people is that violence is never appropriate. “I wouldn’t say that perpetrating violence against someone is a form of empowerment, just like you wouldn’t say a man raping a woman is a form of empowerment,” she said. “It’s a complicated message to get young people to absorb that — what it means to be an empowered person — and it would be nice to see more images of strength that are not about exercising violence or power over other people.” As a survivor of relationship violence at the hands of her ex, Chris Brown , Nilva said the singer is clearly under the microscope when it comes to this topic. But given that people are likely to pay more attention to what she has to say about it because of her fame and the notoriety surrounding Brown’s 2009 assault, Nilva said it would be preferable to see a more positive message from Rihanna on the topic. O’Neill said she’s confident that Rihanna’s fans will understand the message of the clip because any woman who has experienced violence from a partner or acquaintance knows that among the emotions you feel in addition to anger and rage are humiliation and fear and a desire for revenge. “Many women who have experienced violence, of course, have those feelings and this video seems to be a fictional portrayal of those feelings and is not intended to be instructional,” O’Neill said, calling it a kind of catharsis for viewers. “The other aspect that is part of the message is the fact that if you act on your desire to kill this rapist, you will then throw yourself down the rabbit hole of remorse and criminal accountability and be sent to prison. There are repercussions and the video clearly says that.” At press time, MTV’s Facebook poll asking whether the video goes too far had the “no” votes leading the “yes” votes by a margin of three-to-one. Do you think Rihanna’s “Man Down” video goes too far? Cast your vote in our Facebook poll and share your thoughts in the comments below. Related Artists Rihanna
Clip for ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ soundtrack song matches franchise’s otherworldly vibe. By Kara Warner Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington on the set of “Iridescent” Keeping up with what seems to have become a great movie/music partnership, ” Transformers: Dark of the Moon ” director Michael Bay has once again enlisted Linkin Park to contribute a song to the film’s soundtrack, a remix of their song “Iridescent,” from their A Thousand Suns LP. On Thursday (June 2), the ” Iridescent ” video premiered on MTV.com. Fitting in with the thunderous, world-is-ending, intense, high-action vibe that revolves around the world of the “Transformers” films, the clip for ” Iridescent ” has an otherworldly, post-apocalyptic vibe. The video, which is entirely in black-and-white, seems to take place on another planet, in another world entirely, with a sense of weightlessness, combined with shadowy, translucent images of either a futuristic or lost civilization. There is also a bit of religious imagery, with a shot of the band in a “Last Supper”-like scenario at one point. Naturally, there are scenes from “Dark of the Moon” interspersed throughout, but there aren’t so many robots that they distract from the song or the band. “The ‘Transformers’ collaboration has been really fun for us. I mean, we grew up playing with the toys,” LP’s Mike Shinoda told MTV News when we visited the “Iridescent” set in April. “When we first got approached on the first one, we said yes based on the idea of taking that thing that we loved so much and bringing it to life in a modern way. As it’s gone on, that’s still a big part of it for us.” When asked why they chose “Iridescent” for “Dark of the Moon,” Shinoda said the song felt like a good fit. “We put out the record in the late part of last year, and even though it’s never been a single up until this point, [when we played it live] you could really hear the singing pick up momentum during that song,” he said. “It was just something that seemed a natural fit.” “Iridescent” marks the third pairing of Linkin Park and the “Transformers” franchise. The original “Transformers” soundtrack led off with Park’s track ” What I’ve Done ,” and the companion CD to sequel “Revenge of the Fallen” also gave LP the pole position with the tune ” New Divide .” What do you think of Linkin Park’s latest video? Share your reviews in the comments below! Related Videos Linkin Park’s ‘Iridescent’ Music Video Premieres Related Artists Linkin Park
Parents Television Council and Industry Ears criticize depiction of murder in new clip. By Gil Kaufman Rihanna Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ WireImage Rihanna has more than said her piece about how her 2009 assault at the hands of ex-boyfriend Chris Brown has affected her. But in the new video for her single, “Man Down,” the singer is depicted shooting an unarmed man in the head in cold blood at a train station in what viewers later learn is retaliation for a previous sexual assault. “Mama, I just shot a man dead,” Rihanna sings in the video, which debuted on BET on Tuesday. The Parents Television Council, the Enough Is Enough campaign and the entertainment think tank Industry Ears released a statement on Wednesday condemning the video for what the group said was an apparent enticement to young women to turn to violence. ” ‘Man Down’ is an inexcusable, shock-only, shoot-and-kill theme song,” said Industry Ears co-founder Paul Porter, a former programming director at BET. The lyrics to the song match the narrative of the video, including such lines as, “I didn’t mean to end his life/ I know it wasn’t right … I took his heart when/ I pulled out that gun … Oh mama, mama, mama/ I just shot a man down/ In central station/ In front of a big ol’ crowd.” The PTC lamented that Rihanna had a “golden opportunity” to use her celebrity status to send an important message to young girls and victims of rape and domestic violence with the clip, but had missed the mark. “Instead of telling victims they should seek help, Rihanna released a music video that gives retaliation in the form of premeditated murder the imprimatur of acceptability,” said the PTC’s Melissa Henson. Though a spokesperson for Rihanna could not be reached for comment, the singer took to Twitter on Monday to give her fans a preview of the clip’s message. She wrote that it had a “very strong underlying message 4 girls like me.” MTV News spoke with director Anthony Mandler last month, when he revealed that Rihanna let him take the visual to the extreme. “We shot the video last month in Jamaica, and it’s my favorite song she’s ever recorded, so I was really excited to get involved,” he said. “And it’s just one of those songs that demands a strong narrative and visual, and let’s just say, she let me go all the way. So I think you can expect something that’s dramatic and shocking and intense and emotional and uplifting and enlightening.” The organizations have called for BET to stop airing the video immediately. A spokesperson for BET could not be reached at press time. For her part, Rihanna has continued to tout the empowerment message of the clip, tweeting on Wednesday, “Young girls/women all over the world … we are a lot of things! We’re strong innocent fun flirtatious vulnerable, and sometimes our innocence can cause us to be naive! We always think it could NEVER be us, but in reality, it can happen to ANY of us! So ladies be careful and #listentoyomama! I love you and I care!” It’s not the first time Rihanna has been embroiled in a video controversy. Her sexually-suggestive “S&M” clip was banned in a number of countries earlier this year, and some questioned whether she was glorifying domestic violence around the release of the video for her hit Eminem collaboration, “Love the Way You Lie.” What do you think of Rihanna’s video? Is it harmful or empowering? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Related Artists Rihanna
New clip is a humorous take on intense 1993 Michael Douglas film. By James Montgomery Dave Grohl in Foo Fighters’ video for “Walk” Photo: RCA The Foo Fighters’ new “Walk” video is, rather oddly enough, a near re-creation of the 1993 film “Falling Down,” the oft-disturbing portrait of the prototypical “angry white male” (as portrayed by Michael Douglas, complete with crew cut and short-sleeved work shirt) who is pushed to the brink by what he views as society’s decay — immigrants, crime, greed, bureaucracy, the fact that McDonald’s stops serving breakfast at 10:30 a.m. — and goes on a violent rampage as a result, culminating in a stand-off with police and his death. Only, you know, funny. Yes, “Walk” — which premiered Thursday (June 2) on MTV.com — is a bit strange: a humorous take on a film that a) most people probably don’t remember, and b) wasn’t all that humorous in the first place. It opens with frontman Dave Grohl (who, besides his long hair, is a dead-ringer for Douglas’ Bill Foster with his horn-rimmed glasses and striped tie) stuck in a traffic jam of suck: a snotty kid stares at him from the back of a station wagon; bumper stickers proudly proclaim “Bieber is my Co-Pilot,” “Thank You, President Bush” and, rather hilariously, “Coldplay”; well-heeled jerks kick back in their cozy convertibles. And, much like Foster, he snaps, leaving his car on the freeway and beginning a trek across Los Angeles, carrying his guitar case with him. We then follow him as he is pushed closer and closer to the edge, thanks to an ever-extending chain of society’s annoyances: his iPhone dies, a clerk at a convenience store refuses to give him change to make a call and he can’t find a payphone. Of course, unlike “Falling Down,” Grohl’s reactions and his interactions are played up for comedic value. He doesn’t smash up a Korean-owned grocery store, shoot up a fast-foot restaurant or stab a white supremacist. Instead, there is a rather humorous karate fight with some gangbangers (fellow Foos Taylor Hawkins and Chris Shiflett), and he drives a golf cart into a lake. And, unlike Bill Foster, Grohl’s voyage of carnage doesn’t end with a climatic showdown with police at Venice Fishing Pier, but rather at a Foo Fighters’ practice, where he and the band tear through the remainder of the song before the police come crashing in. Grohl gets tazed. The band poses for pictures with the officers. It is funny — and, unlike their “Rope” video , “Walk” looks like it cost a bit of cash — it’s just, well, odd. Those not aware of “Falling Down” will probably view this as another in a long line of funny Foos clips. But for those who’ve seen the film (which can be polarizing, to say the very least), it’s sort of impossible not to view “Walk” through the prism of the original. And that’s why it’s a weird thing to watch. Funny? Sure. A slightly odd choice? Most definitely. Then again, the Foo Fighters have long defied conventions, and with “Walk,” they continue down that path — with some silly costumes, of course. The Foos will perform “Walk” on the 2011 MTV Movie Awards , airing live Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Share your review of the “Walk” video in the comments below! Related Artists Foo Fighters
