Public officials in Erykah Badu’s hometown of Dallas are less than pleased with the R&B songstress, thanks to her new music video for “Window Seat.” The clip — which was all over the net earlier this week, but now runs exclusively on her official site — shows Badu stripping in downtown Dallas’ Dealey Plaza before she lays down naked on the spot of John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination.
Now, Dallas’ mayor pro tem is hoping the city council will draft legislation to ensure more specific punishments are outlined for future acts of public indecency. “None of this would have occurred had she stayed clothed,” Dwaine Caraway told the Dallas Morning News. “But since she didn’t, it elevated the need for making sure that we have policies in place that will protect folks and the integrity of the city as best we possibly can.”
Police are reportedly gathering information regarding the video shoot, which occurred in one quick take (and was inspired by Matt & Kim’s naked video romp through Times Square), and without proper permits, on March 13. No decision has been made on whether to charge Badu, but according to a police spokesman, she would likely receive little more than a citation for disorderly conduct.
Still, the incident has inspired many Dallas residents, from private citizens to public officials, to speak out publicly about Badu — and that’s not a bad thing, considering her new album, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), also dropped this week.
As for the singer herself, she isn’t surprised by the controversy. In fact, Badu chose the spot of JFK’s assassination just for that reason. “That’s exactly what I wanted to display,” she told the Morning News. “I tied it in a way that compared that assassination to the character assassination one would go through after showing his or herself completely.”
For less racy video of “Window Seat,” check out her performance of the smooth and sexy track on an episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
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