Rihanna Causes Stir In U.K., France

Singer, whose Talk That Talk is out this week, offended audience with what she wore on Britain's 'X Factor.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Rihanna performs on "X Factor UK"
Photo: itv

Rihanna seems to be making trouble everywhere she goes these days. On Sunday night, she accepted her American Music Award for Favorite R&B/Soul Album remotely from the U.K., where she was performing on "The X Factor." And part of her ensemble for that performance had heads turning.

She donned a demure plaid dress and clunky punk shoes with writing scrawled all over them, and one phrase on the footwear had some people up in arms. According to The Telegraph, the words "F--- Off" were written on Ri's shoes. While the offensive statement may have left audiences a bit shocked, a spokesperson for the show played down the controversy.

"There were no close-up shots of Rihanna's shoes," the spokesperson said. "We believe the performance was suitable."

Rihanna caused a similar stir last December when she appeared on the British reality program scantily clad in a provocative outfit.

It's not just the Brits that Rihanna is making blush. According to Pressparty, Rihanna's "We Found Love" video has been banned from being played before 10 p.m. in France. The Officials at the Supreme Audiovisual Council of France have deemed the video, which includes drug use, sex and domestic violence, inappropriate for viewing before that hour.

The video's director, Melina Matsoukas, recently defended the video's imagery when she spoke to MTV News. "We love, obviously, to do provocative imagery ... we always try to definitely push the limits," Matsoukas said. "I think because, in the end, it's not really at all about domestic violence. It's really just about it being toxic, and they're on this drug trip and that definitely plays a part, but I think it's also about being triumphant over those weaknesses, and she leaves him. It's not trying to glorify that type of relationship. The bad parts of it, that's what you don't want. In the end, her leaving, it represents her getting that out of her life. The drugs and the addiction and the toxic — that's what brings her downfall and brings a lot of harm."

Rihanna's video for "S&M," also directed by Matsoukas, was banned for using provocative imagery when it was released back in February.

Rihanna drops her new album, Talk That Talk, a grinding party record full of provocative lyrics, this week. "We Found Love" is the first single off the record.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674742/rihanna-x-factor-uk-shoe.jhtml

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