Kanye Video “Not Banned,” MTV Rep Explains

Despite various reports over the weekend that MTV banned Kanye West's controversial "Monster" video, a spokesperson for the station contacted XXLMag.com to clear up the rumors.

Clips of the video leaked online last December and feminine activists Sharon Haywood and Melinda Tankard’s urged the network not to play it. “The mainstreaming of videos like this increases desensitized and callous attitudes toward violence against women,” a spokesperson for the campaign said in a statement. “Young people are seeing images and absorbing harmful messages which glamorize misogyny and brutalize women. We decided to run this campaign because we wanted to challenge the status quo.”

In response to their petition, MTV has been in touch with Yeezy’s label requesting an edited version of the video. “We have been in constant communication with the label regarding this matter,” says an MTV spokesperson. “However, we are still awaiting the edits we requested in order for the video to be suitable for broadcast, [but] MTV has not banned Kaye West's ‘Monster’ video.”—Amber McKynzie