J Balvin’s video for Perra with Tokischa is taken down from YouTube amid misogynoir controversy over how it presents Black women
- The clip was removed from the online platform on Sunday
- No official explanation has been given as to why it was taken down
- J Balvin collaborates with Dominican musical artist Tokischa on the track
- The reggaeton artist was criticized by leaders amid the release of the video
J Balvin’s official video for the track Perra, a collaboration with Tokischa, was taken down from YouTube Sunday, amid controversy over its depiction of Black women.
In the music video, which is directed by Raymi Paulus, the Medellín, Colombia native, 36, is seen walking a pair of Black women on leashes, prompting outrage over misogynoir, an oversexualized depiction of Black women.
Colombian Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez and Presidential Counselor for Women’s Equality Gheidy Gallo Santos issued a statement last week critical of the video, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The latest: J Balvin’s official video for the track Perra, a collaboration with with Tokischa, was taken down from YouTube Sunday, amid controversy over its depiction of Black women. The rapper, 36, was snapped onstage Saturday in Orlando
The leaders in the statement criticized how the video ‘uses images of women and people of African descent – a population group with special constitutional protection – to whom he presents with dog ears.’
The leaders noted that ‘in addition, while walking, the singer carries two Afro-descendant women tied with neck chains and crawling on the floor like animals or slaves.’
According to the paper, Tokischa is seen on her hands and knees in a doghouse in the clip.
On the track Perra, Tokischa and J Balvin compare looking for sex to the way canines do. Her verses include the lyrics, ‘I’m like a dog in heat/Looking for a dog to hit it.’
Tokischa was snapped in Coral Gables, Florida last month at the Billboard Latin Music Awards
J Balvin was snapped earlier this month in concert in Miami
Journalist Nuria Net was also critical of the clip, as she tweeted in Spanish that imagery in the clip was ‘totally despicable and racist,’ adding, ‘Taking it down from YouTube without making any kind of statement or mea culpa is very cowardly and does not solve anything.’
Paulus has taken down his Instagram account, which had more than 74,000 followers, according to the paper.
Tokischa has past faced controversy over her work, which includes allusions to sexual elements such as BDSM, according to the outlet. Her video for the track Yo No Me Voy Acostar was also taken off YouTube last December for undetermined reasons.
J Balvin was asked by Paper magazine earlier this month about how Black contributions have been marginalized in the reggaeton genre.
He said, ‘We know where reggaeton comes from, and if you’re in this game you should know where you come from… Once you’re doing the right thing, we’ll find you.’