16 Music Videos That Were Too Controversial for TV
These are music videos that pushed the boundaries so hard they ended up banned, heavily edited, or relegated to the TV late-night graveyard.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Artists have long used music videos to make bold statements or just shock viewers and some took it too far for the small screen. From explicit sexuality to surreal horror, networks often pulled these clips or forced censored versions. Here are 16 visual works whose controversies kept them off prime‑time TV.
1. Madonna – “Justify My Love”
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This black‑and‑white video showcased erotic roleplay, same‑sex intimacy, and partial nudity, prompting MTV to refuse its premiere in 1990.
2. Nine Inch Nails – “Closer”
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Full of disturbing images, from bondage scenes to religious symbolism, the video was heavily edited and relegated to late‑night broadcasts.
3. The Prodigy – “Smack My Bitch Up”
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Depicting drugs, violence, and sexual situations in a first‑person POV, it was banned by MTV and other outlets and was later shown only in late‑night slots.
4. Björk – “Cocoon”
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Featuring abstract nudity, a nude bodysuit, and intimate close‑ups, the clip was ruled too explicit for mainstream music channels.
5. M.I.A. – “Born Free”
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Graphic and unsettling, this short film-style video depicted genocide and violence. This led to bans in multiple countries and removal from platforms like YouTube.
6. Tool – “Prison Sex”
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A surreal stop‑motion animation depicting abuse, it was too disturbing for MTV. Even without nudity, it still earned a VMA nomination.
7. Queen – “Body Language”
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Sweaty skin, leather, and heavy sensuality. Even without nudity, MTV banned this 1982 video from regular airplay.
8. Soft Cell – “Sex Dwarf”
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A twisted, horror‑inspired visual featured simulated sex acts, BDSM, raw meat, and maggots. It provoked a police raid and remains banned even today.
9. Belouis Some – “Imagination”
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Surreal nudity and dreamlike sequences landed this 1985 clip in the banned pile. Only a toned‑down version can be seen on MTV.
10. Duran Duran – “Girls on Film”
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Packed with mud wrestling, topless models, and erotic wrestling, MTV rejected it and forced a heavily censored version to air.
11. Van Halen – “Hot for Teacher”
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Set in a hyper‑sexualized high school, it featured suggestive routines and implied nudity, resulting in multiple TV bans in 1984.
12. Aerosmith – “Angel”
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Released in 1984, the video’s provocative dancing and blurred imagery sparked edits and limited airing. It was deemed too sexually suggestive for daytime rotation on many major networks.
13. The Rolling Stones – “Undercover of the Night”
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With images of violent protest and political unrest, this 1983 clip shocked audiences. It was quickly pulled from regular rotations.
14. Soundgarden – “Jesus Christ Pose”
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MTV banned this for its depiction of crosses and a woman nailed to one. It was viewed as anti‑Christian, despite its intended critique of religious exploitation.
15. Megadeth – “A Tout Le Monde”
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MTV rejected this video due to visuals glamorizing suicide, complete with casket scenes and grave imagery. Critics argued it sent the wrong message to younger audiences during prime-time airings.
16. Marilyn Manson – “(s)AINT”
Aversives on Wikimedia Commons
Featuring nudity, drug use, self-harm, and blasphemous imagery, even his own label refused to release it in the U.S. However, it aired unedited in parts of Europe and Japan.