R&B star Erykah Badu is upset with rockers the Flaming Lips after they accidentally leaked a provocative new collaboration video online without her permission.
The racy promo accompanying Badu's duet with Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, debuted on alternative music news website Pitchfork.com last week (ends01Jun12), but it has since been removed after the band realised it hadn't OK'd the final cut with the On and On singer.
In a statement released on Wednesday (06Jun12), Coyne writes, "The video link that was erroneously posted on Pitchfork by the Flaming Lips of the Music Video The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face, which features Erykah Badu, is unedited and unapproved...
"Sorry!! We, the Flaming Lips, accept full responsibility for prematurely having Pitchfork post it. It has outraged and upset a segment of fans and we apologize if we offended any viewers!!! This is a Flaming Lips video which features Erykah Badu and her sister Nayrok and is not meant to be considered an Erykah Badu or Nayrok statement, creation, or approved version."
Responding to Coyne, angry Badu, who appears naked in the arty video-gone-wrong, writes, "Perhaps, next time u get an occasion to work with an artist who respects your mind/art, you should send at least a rough version of the video u Plan to release b4 u manipulate or compromise the artist's brand by desperately releasing a poor excuse for shock and nudity that sends a convoluted message that passes as art (to some).
"There was a method and thought process involved. I have not one need for publicity. I just love artistic dialogue. And just because an image is shocking does not make it art.
"You obviously have a misconception of who I am artistically. I don't mind that but... By the way you are an a**. Yu did everything wrong from the on set."
Badu reveals she agreed to sit in "a tub of that other s**t... out of Respect for you and the artist you 'appear' to be," adding, "I Didn't wanna kill your concept, wanted u to at least get it out of your head. After all, u spent your dough (money) on studio, trip to Dallas etc."
She concludes the lengthy statement writing, "U disrespected me by releasing pics and rough vid (video) on the internet without my approval. (Contract breech). That is equivalent to putting out a security camera's images of me changing in the fitting room. I never would have approved that tasteless, meaningless, shock motivated video."
She also takes aim at the song recording, stating it "displays crappy 'rough' vocals by me," adding, "I Should have followed my first mind back in studio when recording the vocals 'your way'. (Red flag) It was uncomfortable. For that I am at fault.
"Consequently, brother, As a human I am disgusted with your what appears to be desperation and poor execution. And disregard for others. As a director I am unimpressed. As a sociologist I understand your type. As your fellow artist I am uninspired. As a woman I feel violated and underestimated. Hope it works out for ya, Wayne."