In the small hours of June 5, Kanye West released the official video for “Monster” featuring Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Rick Ross on his official website. Previously, an unfinished version of the video had leaked in February featuring decapitated models and a sadomasochistic Nicki Minaj segment. New to the official version of the video–a disclaimer.
In what appears to be an attempt by West’s camp to deter a public relations scandal, the video opens with a disclaimer instead of it’s original Rick Ross cut. In February, the leaked version of the video prompted petitions to Universal Music Group and MTV asking senior management to cut support for the video due to images of “eroticized violence against women.” Despite garnering over 15,000 signatures on the online petition, few changes have been made to the video and instead, a disclaimer was added to the final production. After a minute into the video this much is clear, Kanye West certainly has a controversial interpretation of what it means to be a “monster,” one he’s well aware he will have to defend in the wake of the release.
