10 Most Controversial Music Videos Of All Time
5. Madonna - Like A Prayer (1989)
Released as the lead single of Madonna’s same titled fourth album, Like a Prayer sparked a storm of controversy upon release. Written and produced by Madonna and long time collaborator Patrick Leonard, the track marked a change in Madonna’s style as she moved into more adult contemporary fare. Lyrically, the song focuses on a young woman who believes herself to be in love with God.
Directed by Pet Sematary’s Mary Lambert, the video involves Madonna portraying a witness to the murder of a young white woman by a group of white men. A black man is then wrongly arrested for the crime while Madonna takes refuge in a church. The stigmata are shown along with images of the KKK’s burning crosses as Madonna considers coming forward as a witness. There is also a dream involving kissing a saint loosely inspired by Martin de Porres, the patron saint of racial harmony.
The music video was immediately condemned by the Vatican for its perceived blasphemy with Pope John Paul II himself demanding the singer be boycotted. The single was released in conjunction with a Pepsi commercial campaign. Due to the boycott that was further bolstered by various family and Christian groups complaining, Pepsi dropped the campaign in fear of their products also being boycotted. While Madonna’s sponsorship contract with the drinks conglomerate was swiftly ended, she was allowed to hold on to her payment.