Police May Charge Erykah Badu for Nude "Window Seat" Video

Law enforcement officials in Dallas are considering hitting Erykah Badu with a disorderly conduct charge for walking around Dallas' Dealey Plaza in the nude while filming her controversial new video "Window Seat" (YouTubes of the clip have been removed, but it's posted in full on Badu's official website). While no one who witnessed Badu's strip show called law enforcement at the time of the shoot, police are actively asking anyone who saw Badu naked to step forward and file a complaint. "I don't think it's going to be something she would go to jail behind, but certainly the message has to be sent," Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway told WFAA-TV.

More risqué controversy can be found in our Crotch Rock gallery.

As Rolling Stone previously reported, Badu was inspired by Matt & Kim's "Lesson Learned" video, which featured the pair streaking naked in New York's Times Square. The singer also references John F. Kennedy's assassination in the "Window Seat" video, her second clip off New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ahnk). Passersby may not have called authorities, but they certainly noted the star's unusual behavior on the day of the shoot. "They were yelling, THIS IS A PUBLIC PLACE: YOU OUGHTA BE ASHAMED: PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON: DAMN GIRL!" Badu wrote on Twitter. Her biggest concern, aside from the law, was the fact that children were present while she walked around the grassy knoll naked. "There were children there. i prayed they wouldn't b traumatized…," Badu added.

Caraway called Badu's actions "shocking, provocative" and the city is now considering changing the laws governing video shoots; currently no special permits are needed to film in the city. Because the video was filmed over two weeks ago, on St. Patrick's Day, severe charges against the singer are unlikely. At worst, Badu would face a Class A misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge.

Rolling Stone's Jenny Eliscu visits Badu and her family at their Dallas home in the new issue, on sale at newsstands now. Badu didn't get naked for her RS shoot, but lots of other stars have — check out Getting Naked: Big Names Show Some Skin on the Cover of Rolling Stone.

Related Stories:

• Erykah Badu's "Window Seat" Video Inspired By Matt & Kim, Kennedy Assassination

• Erykah Badu Debuts "Window Seat" on "Fallon": On the Scene

• Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne Channel Funkadelic for "Jump in the Air"

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter