Days after premiering the video for ‘Window Seat’ — the lead single from her newly released fifth studio album, ‘New Amerykah Part 2 (Return of the Ankh)’ — controversy has revolved around Erykah Badu.
As previously reported, the Grammy Award-winning singer enlisted the help of Creative Control duo Coodie and Chike to direct the clip, guerilla-style. In it, she strips off her clothes as she walks through downtown Dallas, and at the end of the video is naked lying on the street at Dealey Plaza, the historic site where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
The video, which hit the Internet via her Web site, ErykahBadu.com, on March 26 has since been taken down from YouTube by her record label Universal Music Group (Motown).
According to Dallas KXAS, authorities in the “Lone State” are now considering whether to charge the singer with indecent exposure. The 39-year-old ‘On and On’ singer escaped being seen by police the day of the video shoot, but if one witness comes forward, she could face up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
Badu, who performed a secret show in New York over the weekend and one in Los Angeles earlier this week, is taking it all in stride. The mother of three — legally known as Erica Abi Wright — has said that she felt liberated after shedding her clothes.
“I feel like I shed a lot of things, confronted a lot of fears,” she told BET.com. “I hope I spoke for women and men and people who feel trapped under their own coverings who wish to also be liberated.”
Badu will continue making rounds on the talk show circuit. She will appear on’ The Wanda Sykes Show’ April 3, ‘Chelsea Lately’ April 5 and ‘The Mo’Nique Show’ April 6.
Her next live performance will be at Waterfront Theatre in Miami on April 8.
