Comments on: Eminem and Rihanna cause domestic abuse controversy with “Love the Way You Lie” video http://www.about-face.org/eminem-and-rihanna-cause-domestic-abuse-controversy-with-love-the-way-you-lie-video/ Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:19:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Been there http://www.about-face.org/eminem-and-rihanna-cause-domestic-abuse-controversy-with-love-the-way-you-lie-video/#comment-1224 Been there Fri, 17 Sep 2010 03:24:23 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=3694#comment-1224 Song/Video.. Obviously a realistic portrayal. Here's the problem I have with both... song ends still claiming to love the way he lies and the video ends with the girl sleeping peacefully together with the lover who threatened to kill her. This isn't going to help the vast audience of young women who WILL be dealing with domestic violence in some way, shape, or form. I have a definite problem with that. We all should. Song/Video.. Obviously a realistic portrayal.
Here’s the problem I have with both… song ends still claiming to love the way he lies and the video ends with the girl sleeping peacefully together with the lover who threatened to kill her. This isn’t going to help the vast audience of young women who WILL be dealing with domestic violence in some way, shape, or form.
I have a definite problem with that. We all should.

]]> By: Jackie http://www.about-face.org/eminem-and-rihanna-cause-domestic-abuse-controversy-with-love-the-way-you-lie-video/#comment-1223 Jackie Wed, 15 Sep 2010 05:17:51 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=3694#comment-1223 I don't know what I can say, other than every time I hear this song I want to cry. I feel it really expresses the pain and feeling trapped, the woman in the relationship feels. I don't feel the song is glamourizing abusive relationships at all, I think it's showing how terrible such a relationship is. I also feel Lil' Kim's lyrics are expressing not that she wants to feel pain, but that she feels torn between her love for Eminem in the video and knowing she must leave him or she will die. I met a woman on Hello Kitty Online (Yes, adults play that game too, quite a lot of them), who was in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. Her sentiments seemed very similar to this song, that she loved her boyfriend and was willing to accept his abusive behavior, while denying that the relationship was beyond repair and she needs to move on. So that's my opinion, I really feel sad hearing the chorus because I she really communicates through her singing, she's feeling pain, not that she's happy about her situation. I don’t know what I can say, other than every time I hear this song I want to cry. I feel it really expresses the pain and feeling trapped, the woman in the relationship feels. I don’t feel the song is glamourizing abusive relationships at all, I think it’s showing how terrible such a relationship is.

I also feel Lil’ Kim’s lyrics are expressing not that she wants to feel pain, but that she feels torn between her love for Eminem in the video and knowing she must leave him or she will die. I met a woman on Hello Kitty Online (Yes, adults play that game too, quite a lot of them), who was in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. Her sentiments seemed very similar to this song, that she loved her boyfriend and was willing to accept his abusive behavior, while denying that the relationship was beyond repair and she needs to move on.

So that’s my opinion, I really feel sad hearing the chorus because I she really communicates through her singing, she’s feeling pain, not that she’s happy about her situation.

]]> By: Lara http://www.about-face.org/eminem-and-rihanna-cause-domestic-abuse-controversy-with-love-the-way-you-lie-video/#comment-1222 Lara Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:36:16 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=3694#comment-1222 Nope. Most kids will just think it's normal or "cool" to hit women, or to be hit by your boyfriend/male lover. Trust me, I used to be an assistant teacher with middle and high schoolers. I know. Just because a rapper is putting an issue "out there" it doesn't mean anyone is having constructive conversations about it. Look at the people just above me in the comments section defending Eminem (he's an abusive s**tface) and claiming that women are the "real" abusers. Really?? There is absolutely NOTHING positive about a song glorifying violence against women. Ever. There is not subtext, there is no hidden meaning, there is no excuse because Eminem is an "artist." Nope. Most kids will just think it’s normal or “cool” to hit women, or to be hit by your boyfriend/male lover. Trust me, I used to be an assistant teacher with middle and high schoolers. I know. Just because a rapper is putting an issue “out there” it doesn’t mean anyone is having constructive conversations about it. Look at the people just above me in the comments section defending Eminem (he’s an abusive s**tface) and claiming that women are the “real” abusers. Really??
There is absolutely NOTHING positive about a song glorifying violence against women. Ever. There is not subtext, there is no hidden meaning, there is no excuse because Eminem is an “artist.”

]]> By: Marisa http://www.about-face.org/eminem-and-rihanna-cause-domestic-abuse-controversy-with-love-the-way-you-lie-video/#comment-1221 Marisa Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:15:33 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=3694#comment-1221 I think it's easy to lump Eminem into the group of musicians these days who exploit the tragedy of violence and sexism to sell an album but there's something different about what he's doing that's easy to miss between f-bombs and pyrotechnic threats. I hear an honesty in his words that is lacking in other references to violent relationships. I actually don't think there's a single line that's meant to imply that this type of relationship is okay. Even Rhianna's chorus expresses not a genuine affirmation of domestic abuse but an all too true reality of the situation - that love and violence can be horribly interconnected. I hear words written by an artist who has been tortured by abusive relationships for much of his life; who knows how horrible they are and also how hard to give up. This video gave me chills because it is offensive. But it's the SITUATION that offends, not the choice to represent it in a realistic way. It's particularly important to consider this song within the context of an entire album - one that expresses deep regret and humility about the pain and destruction caused by addiction as well as the incredibly challenging journey to sobriety and health. Abusive relationships can clearly be addictive in quite a similar way to the drugs Eminem candidly admits ruled his life. If you give him an honest chance, this newest album has little to none of the gratuitous violence and degradation for shock value that Eminem has come to be known for. I would argue that while violent and disturbing, even his earlier work came from an honest if troubling place, and any fair critic can see that Recovery lacks the hubris that oozes from the pores of your average "pop" star. Of course this situation is degrading - and that's why it's horrible and why it's painful and why these musicians and actors connected strongly to the cause. But it's part of the COMMENTARY on degradation; it's not the degradation itself. I will take this painfully honest account of a horrible and sad reality any day over a video that portrays "success" and "happiness" with strippers and champagne. I think it’s easy to lump Eminem into the group of musicians these days who exploit the tragedy of violence and sexism to sell an album but there’s something different about what he’s doing that’s easy to miss between f-bombs and pyrotechnic threats.

I hear an honesty in his words that is lacking in other references to violent relationships. I actually don’t think there’s a single line that’s meant to imply that this type of relationship is okay. Even Rhianna’s chorus expresses not a genuine affirmation of domestic abuse but an all too true reality of the situation – that love and violence can be horribly interconnected.

I hear words written by an artist who has been tortured by abusive relationships for much of his life; who knows how horrible they are and also how hard to give up. This video gave me chills because it is offensive. But it’s the SITUATION that offends, not the choice to represent it in a realistic way.

It’s particularly important to consider this song within the context of an entire album – one that expresses deep regret and humility about the pain and destruction caused by addiction as well as the incredibly challenging journey to sobriety and health. Abusive relationships can clearly be addictive in quite a similar way to the drugs Eminem candidly admits ruled his life.

If you give him an honest chance, this newest album has little to none of the gratuitous violence and degradation for shock value that Eminem has come to be known for. I would argue that while violent and disturbing, even his earlier work came from an honest if troubling place, and any fair critic can see that Recovery lacks the hubris that oozes from the pores of your average “pop” star.

Of course this situation is degrading – and that’s why it’s horrible and why it’s painful and why these musicians and actors connected strongly to the cause. But it’s part of the COMMENTARY on degradation; it’s not the degradation itself.

I will take this painfully honest account of a horrible and sad reality any day over a video that portrays “success” and “happiness” with strippers and champagne.

]]> By: Kanga Roo http://www.about-face.org/eminem-and-rihanna-cause-domestic-abuse-controversy-with-love-the-way-you-lie-video/#comment-1220 Kanga Roo Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:14:52 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=3694#comment-1220 I'm not surprised that he would release something like this, but you can bet that I'm thoroughly disgusted. I’m not surprised that he would release something like this, but you can bet that I’m thoroughly disgusted.

]]> By: George R. McCasland http://www.about-face.org/eminem-and-rihanna-cause-domestic-abuse-controversy-with-love-the-way-you-lie-video/#comment-1219 George R. McCasland Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:07:00 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=3694#comment-1219 Now he should consider making one showing that nearly half the batterers are women. Such as the Major League Baseball Pitcher who was beaten on by his girlfriend, a super model, while driving in their car on a California freeway at the same time it was happening to Rihanna. I guess it male victims don't make all the news. It was just a back page story in the LA Times. Annette's Story: The Other Face Of Domestic Violence http://TheOtherFaceOfDomesticAbuse-Annettes-Story.org Now he should consider making one showing that nearly half the batterers are women. Such as the Major League Baseball Pitcher who was beaten on by his girlfriend, a super model, while driving in their car on a California freeway at the same time it was happening to Rihanna. I guess it male victims don’t make all the news. It was just a back page story in the LA Times.

Annette’s Story: The Other Face Of Domestic Violence
http://TheOtherFaceOfDomesticAbuse-Annettes-Story.org

]]> By: Tweets that mention A B O U T – F A C E — blog » Eminem and Rihanna cause domestic abuse controversy with “Love the Way You Lie” video -- Topsy.com http://www.about-face.org/eminem-and-rihanna-cause-domestic-abuse-controversy-with-love-the-way-you-lie-video/#comment-1218 Tweets that mention A B O U T – F A C E — blog » Eminem and Rihanna cause domestic abuse controversy with “Love the Way You Lie” video -- Topsy.com Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:36:16 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=3694#comment-1218 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by M. Konstantinovsky, About-Face. About-Face said: @Eminem and @Rihanna cause domestic abuse controversy with “Love the Way You Lie” video http://about-face.org/blog/archives/3694 [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by M. Konstantinovsky, About-Face. About-Face said: @Eminem and @Rihanna cause domestic abuse controversy with “Love the Way You Lie” video http://about-face.org/blog/archives/3694 [...]

]]>