Ironically, the controversy only served to make the video more famous. Despite being banned by MTV, the video was nominated for four awards at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, winning for Best Dance Video and Breakthrough Video.
Few music videos in the history of electronic music—or music in general—have generated as much controversy, outrage, and lasting discussion as The Prodigy’s "Smack My Bitch Up" (1997). Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the video was an intense, first-person narrative of a wild night out that pushed the boundaries of visual media, leading to immediate bans, intense media criticism, and a lasting legacy as a cultural touchstone of 90s hedonism.
Critics argued the lyrics and scenes of the protagonist abusing people—and specifically interacting with women in a predatory manner—were misogynistic. prodigy smack my bitch up uncensored banne
Long before the video debuted on December 7, 1997, the track itself from the seminal album The Fat of the Land was under heavy fire. The central lyric—a looped sample stating "Change my pitch up / Smack my bitch up" —was heavily criticized as misogynistic and an incitement to violence against women.
The reaction was immediate. Feminist groups, particularly the US National Organization for Women (NOW), condemned the video as misogynistic, accusing it of promoting violence against women. Ironically, the controversy only served to make the
: The unedited version features graphic depictions of binge drinking, drunk driving, cocaine use, vandalism, hit-and-run incidents, and sexual assault. The Plot Twist
: Heavy alcohol consumption, drug use (snorting cocaine and, in the unedited version, heroin use), drunk driving, a hit-and-run, and vandalism. Violence and Sex Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the video was an
: Sometimes, an apology can go a long way in resolving conflicts. Consider whether an apology is warranted and if you're in a position to offer or accept one.
In a famous 1998 moment, the Beastie Boys reportedly asked The Prodigy not to play the song during their set at the Reading Festival. Maxim, The Prodigy’s frontman, responded to the crowd: "I do what the fuck I want!" before launching into the track. Why It Still Matters
The genius—and the trap—of the video lies in its final seconds. The protagonist stumbles toward a bathroom mirror, exposing the twist: the wild, aggressive, and hedonistic individual the audience assumed was a toxic male is actually a woman.