Rihanna Responds To Music Video Backlash: 'I'm A Rockstar With No Kids!'

Radaronline.com reports Rihanna addresses her critics about her "non-role model" type videos such as Man Down. She says "I'm a 23 year old rockstar with NO KIDS! What's up with everybody wantin me to be a parent? I'm just a girl, I can only be your/our voice!"

I agree with her on this issue. I believe she is being held to a double standard when it comes to the Man Down video. The movie "The Skin I Live In" staring Antonio Banderas has similar subject matter without the same backlash.

It think the truth of the matter is that rape is an act based on violence and power. So the natural reaction to this event is to react in a violent and powerful way. The only way to overcome the natural reaction is a lot of therapy and the current mental health system doesn't provide that opportunity for most.

Rape by Deception

Jo Adetunji and Harriet Sherwood in Jerusalem report the following:

A Palestinian man has been convicted of rape after having consensual sex with a woman who had believed him to be a fellow Jew.

Sabbar Kashur, 30, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Monday after the court ruled that he was guilty of rape by deception. According to the complaint filed by the woman with the Jerusalem district court, the two met in downtown Jerusalem in September 2008 where Kashur, an Arab from East Jerusalem, introduced himself as a Jewish bachelor seeking a serious relationship. The two then had consensual sex in a nearby building before Kashur left.

This case is really sad on many levels.

1. No one should feel the need to lie about his/her religion for a relationship.

2. No one should have to go to jail for 18 months for telling a "lie at the club".

3. No one should take something to trial on a minority that he/she wouldn't take to the trail on a member of the majority.

4. No one needs to call the cops because he/she were scorn in a relationship.

5. If you can't handle the ramifications of a sexual relationship don't have sex.

Faceless Marketing

Anybody else bothered by this faceless marketing campaign for Precious? The movie looks intense (and I'm definitely going to go see it--you can check out the trailers HERE) but the erasure of the actress, new-comer Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe makes me feel uncomfortable. Now, the poster is beautiful in its haunting, kind of early 20th Century Expressionist way, but I can't help but think that perhaps this faceless campaign has to do with our protagonist being fat. Sympathizing with the faceless, drawn fatty verses the real life young woman? Faceless-ness, can be symbolic for all the neglected girls she represents (neglected by her mother, the father who raped her, and the school system that didn't get her the services she needs in order to learn how to read). Yet, at the same time, this film is based on a specific memoir, but a specific human being and the actress who was brave enough to take this difficult role ought to be acknowledged.

Anyway, dear reader, let us know your thoughts in the comments. Am I crazy for feeling uncomfortable with this campaign or is there something there?