Erykah Badu’s Video, Did She Go Too Far?

Erykah Badu reveals that she had hoped to be arrested for her new video “Window Seat” in downtown Dallas to make a “bigger message”. The police didn’t notice the film crew, and therefore didn’t do anything. However, she might get charged for disorderly conduct, which would basically give her a $500 fine if found guilty.

The video has provoked a lot of controversy as it was made at the same place where John F. Kennedy was shot, in broad day light in front of children. Here are some remarks made about “Window Seat”:

"It is not just about the nudity — it is also about where she decided to film this piece of junk....and then to include the gun shot....it was very disrespectful. ... she did this with no regard for anyone else but herself." – thm, the Dallas Morning News site, March 30th

"I think Erykah Badu is brilliant. That video was the deepest, most sincere, undeniably real video I've ever seen. EVER." –Tyeastia, CNN.com March 31st

"Sorry. I appreciate the statement and the thought behind the video, and I'm also a huge Badu fan. That said, the nudity and subsequent mock assassination? With the children present? Sorry, I'm not feeling it." –Shola Akinnuso, The Root, March 30th

And here are Erykah’s thoughts on her new video:

“It is a little controversial. I guess people would say that in the video I shed a lot of emotion and a lot of baggage by way of shedding clothing. And I do this in the middle of a busy street, which is totally probably something that is not accepted in society. Thus, definitely not conforming to what society would expect you to do and because . . . I guess 85% of the world is a part of what we would call Groupthink, that's like a form of thinking that causes you to bury what you really feel inside to please the group so that you won't be ostracized by the group. It's a comfort zone we create for ourselves and I go outside of that comfort zone and the video says everything. It's open for discussion”.

In my opinion Erykah has a a good point, and really had guts to take off all her layers and focus on Groupthink. We don’t really think about it, but it’s true we do try to please people, and then consequently refrain from being ourselves.

Erykah Badu didn’t go too far at all, she did it at the right time and right place. By doing so people are more aware of her message.