That Eric Alper

Music videos are meant to grab your attention, stir your emotions, and—sometimes—get pulled off the air entirely. Whether it was too much skin, too much truth, or too much weirdness, some of the most iconic videos in history were banned, blurred, or heavily edited. And that only made us want to watch them more.

Here are 20 music videos that broke the rules, raised eyebrows, and still rock our world today.

Aphex Twin – “Come to Daddy”
A demonic TV scream, nightmarish children with Richard D. James’ face, and chaos in a gray urban landscape. Too terrifying for many broadcasters, it’s still one of the most unsettling—and brilliant—videos ever made.

Björk – “Pagan Poetry”
This one featured pierced skin, exposed nipples, and intimate footage from her real-life wedding. Björk is art. And art is sometimes NSFW.

David Bowie – “China Girl”
The 1983 video featured nudity, interracial intimacy, and political undertones that didn’t sit well with censors. Banned or heavily edited in several regions, it was Bowie’s attempt to challenge racism and Western stereotypes.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood – “Relax”
BBC banned it. MTV hesitated. But the video’s bold sexuality only made the song’s hook more iconic—and one of the most defiant synth-pop moments ever.

George Michael – “I Want Your Sex”
At the height of the AIDS crisis, this video was banned or relegated to late-night slots for being “too sexual.” George Michael’s message of monogamous passion still struck a chord—and sparked a vital conversation.

Justice – “Stress”
A gritty, hyper-violent video following a group of youths wreaking havoc in Paris. Brutal, chaotic, and banned on multiple channels for being “too real.”

Madonna – “Like a Prayer”
Religious iconography. Burning crosses. Kissing a saint. The Vatican condemned it. Pepsi dropped her. Madonna shrugged and made history.

Marilyn Manson – “(s)AINT”
Too graphic even for his own label. Self-mutilation, drug use, and unfiltered rage got this one locked away—but it’s Manson at his most uncompromising.

M.I.A. – “Born Free”
An intense political allegory involving the military and red-headed genocide. YouTube pulled it. Critics called it brave. It still shocks.

Nine Inch Nails – “Closer”
“Help me, I want to f— you like an animal” was just the start. Tortured animals, crucifixion, and Trent Reznor’s eerie charisma got this one banned from nearly every channel.

Pearl Jam – “Jeremy” (Uncut Version)
The original cut ends with implied school violence—too much for MTV after Columbine. It was quickly pulled, but the power of the song only grew.

Prodigy – “Smack My Bitch Up”
Drug use, nudity, violence, and a twist ending that blew minds. Banned by MTV, but praised by critics. Chaotic? Yes. Groundbreaking? Absolutely.

Pulp – “This Is Hardcore”
A noir-drenched descent into the dark side of fame and lust. The video’s stylized eroticism and psychological unease made networks uncomfortable—and made fans obsessed.

Rihanna – “S&M”
The title alone was a red flag. Add bondage, latex, and media mockery, and you’ve got a video banned in 11 countries and restricted on YouTube.

Robbie Williams – “Rock DJ”
Starts off cheeky, ends with Robbie stripping down to muscle and bone—literally. The flesh-tearing finale made it unforgettable and unplayable in many countries.

Sigur Rós – “Fjögur píanó”
An eight-minute fever dream starring Shia LaBeouf, complete with nudity, violence, and surreal repetition. Gorgeous and disturbing in equal measure.

Tom Petty – “You Don’t Know How It Feels”
The phrase “let’s roll another joint” didn’t sit well with MTV censors, who reversed the word “joint” to avoid airing drug references. A simple, chilled-out song with a surprisingly controversial lyric.

Tool – “Prison Sex”
Dark claymation, disturbing abuse metaphors, and Tool’s signature unease made this one too heavy for mainstream networks. But it became a cult classic.

Tyler, The Creator – “Yonkers”
Self-mutilation, cockroach eating, and hanging imagery made this viral debut too controversial for some platforms. But it introduced a singular voice.

Young Fathers – “Shame”
Gritty, raw, and unsettling. A surreal chase scene through the streets that left just enough unease to make certain broadcasters back off.