Why Rihanna's 'S&M' Was Banned in 11 Countries: the Shocking Story Behind the 2011 Pop Provocation

Whether you are following Why Rihanna's 'S&M' Was Banned in 11 Countries: the Shocking Story Behind the 2011 Pop Provocation, we offer a clear overview you shouldn't miss.

Q1: Which countries banned Rihanna's "S&M" music video outright?

A1: Eleven countries banned the video from television rotation upon release, primarily across South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of East Asia, including South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. Several Western nations, including the United Kingdom and France, did not issue total bans but restricted the uncut video to late-night programming after the 9:00 PM watershed mark.

Q2: Why did BBC Radio 1 change the title to "Come On"?

A2: Program executives at BBC Radio 1 were concerned that daytime listeners, particularly children, would be exposed to overt references to sadomasochism. To maintain daytime suitability, the station retitled the song "Come On" on live RDS displays and broadcast an audio edit that muted the phrase "whips and chains" during morning and afternoon rotations.

Q3: How was the copyright infringement lawsuit by David LaChapelle resolved?

A3: After federal judge Shira Scheindlin ruled that the video shared substantial visual similarities with eight of LaChapelle's fine-art photographs, lawyers for both sides negotiated an out-of-court settlement in October 2011. While financial details remain bound by a non-disclosure agreement, legal observers confirmed that Universal Music Group and Def Jam agreed to a confidential settlement that ended the litigation.