Rihanna - Wireimage
Another day, another controversy for Rihanna‘s “S&M” video.
The pop star is being sued by famed celebrity photographer David LaChapelle for, what he claims, are scenes in the Melina-directed clip being “directly derived” from his works, Reuters reports.
LaChapelle, who is famous for his risque pictorials in magazines like GQ and Rolling Stone and directing music videos for Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Elton John, says Rihanna’s sexy video copies the “composition, total concept, feel, tone, mood, theme, colors, props, settings, decors, wardrobe and lighting” of eight of his images.
Not long after the music video premiered, and before the lawsuit was made public, Radar Online posted a side-by-side comparison to show the striking similarities between LaChapelle’s images and the offending scenes in the “S&M” video.
This isn’t the first time a Melina-directed Rihanna video has been accused of being a copy. RiRi’s colorful “Rude Boy” clip was slammed for being too similar to M.I.A.‘s “Boyz” vid.
Rihanna is truly a great singer and dancer. I love her accent for Barbados I think it is. Please keep that accent Rihanna I love it. It is a flavor that I enjoy. It is just a hint of it that makes you sound very good. And if Rihanna is reading these Happy Valentine’s Days!! Love you as a fan!! PS Stay the hell away from the beater you know who. Nobody in their right mind would lay a hand on you. You are so cute.