Lady Gaga’s video axed over ‘rape’ controversy?

Lady Gaga’s Do What U Want video has never been seen because it was “literally an ad for rape”, according to a new report.

Gaga and R Kelly shot the video for their ARTPOP duet last autumn with controversial photographer/director Terry Richardson. Although Do What U Want was released as a single in October, and went on the become a UK top ten hit, the video’s release was pushed back on several occasions.

In a blog post this January, Gaga described the delays as “devastating” and claimed her creative process had been rushed – but six months later, the video remains locked in the vaults.

Now the New York Post‘s PageSix column claims to have been informed that the clip was too “racy” to be released – especially considering the sex-related controversies surrounding both Richardson and R Kelly.

A source apparently told PageSix that the video sees Gaga play a patient who is being treated by Kelly’s doctor. When Gaga, who famously suffered a hip injury last year, asks Kelly’s doctor if she will ever be able to walk again, he reportedly replies: “Yes, if you let me do whatever I want with your body. I’m putting you under, and when you wake up, you’re going to be pregnant.”

The source apparently said of the unseen promo clip: “Gaga had a video directed by an alleged sexual predator, starring another sexual predator. With the theme, ‘I’m going to do whatever I want with your body?’ It was literally an ad for rape.”

However, spokespeople for Gaga, Richardson and Kelly apparently failed to offer a comment when contacted by PageSix.

Meanwhile, Gaga released a video for another track from her ARTPOP album, G.U.Y., in March – and Attitude‘s Ben Kelly took  the opportunity to investigate its multitude of themes. Click here to read his analysis of the decadent video.