Taylor Swift's "Wildest Dreams" video has come under fire amid accusations that it glamorizes white African colonialism. It created online backlash and was condemned by media outlets. No words were heard from the 25-year-old singer, but she was defended by her music video director.
In a statement made by Joseph Kahn, the music director explained that Swift's latest video is about a tragic love story filmed in the setting of the 1950s and not about colonialism , according to Hollywood Life.
"This is not a video about colonialism but a love story on the set of a period film crew in Africa, 1950," Kahn, 42, said in a statement, via NPR. "The video is based on classic Hollywood romances like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, as well as classic movies like The African Queen, Out of Africa, and The English Patient, to name a few."
Kahn, who also directed Swift's "Bad Blood" and "Blank Space," claimed that there were black actors present in the video. However, since the story is centered to Taylor and Scott, they were not given much screen time. He also said that the singer is donating all the proceeds of the video to The Animal Foundation.
The director's defense comes after the said video was criticized by NPR.
"We are shocked to think that in 2015, Taylor Swift, her record label and her video production group would think it was OK to film a video that presents a glamorous version of the white colonial fantasy of Africa," Viviane Rutabingwa, who is of African heritage wrote.
It is not the first time that Swift's music video received criticisms. Last year, her video "Shake it Off" was condemned by her detractors after accusing her of 'accidental racism,' according to USA Today. Earl Sweatshirt charged her of 'perpetuating black stereotypes.'
Swift's "Wildest Dreams" video features African scene, with African animals except that characters are played by White people. It is Taylor's fifth single from her mega-hit album, "1989." Since it was premiered at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, August 30, it has been viewed more than 23K times. Have you seen the controversial video? Watch it here!
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