Christina Aguilera unintentionally promotes Thai sex tourism in latest video.

October 21, 2002 11:52 AM

Christina Aguilera unintentionally promotes Thai sex tourism in latest video. Somebody fire the set designer quick!
posted by monkeymike (43 comments total)

A little digital tweaking will fix that.
Lots of free publicity for "nasty Christina".
LaChapelle -- more interesting as a photographer than as video director
posted by matteo at 12:01 PM on October 21, 2002

The Thai government said it would take action if the video proves to be damaging to the country's reputation.

Perhaps if they were really concerned about their "country's reputation," the Thai government could actually do something about their sex tourism and underage prostitution problem, rather than just complain that an MTV video happens to reference it.
posted by edlark at 12:03 PM on October 21, 2002

Um, what's up with her eyes in that photo? It looks like she has two shiners.
posted by Red58 at 12:25 PM on October 21, 2002

This chick is about 2 small steps away from hardcore porn.

I haven't ever listened to any of her music, but it can't be as bad (or as unintentionally hilarious) as the Traci Lords album "1000 Fires".
posted by BobFrapples at 12:32 PM on October 21, 2002

Elvis' hips! I mean, Madonna with crosses burning! Wait, I mean Thai sex. . .oh, nevermind.
posted by four panels at 12:43 PM on October 21, 2002

What SHOULD she be promoting then, if not hoedom? She's just an animated blow up doll. She should get plastic surgery so her mouth is permanently in an "oh!" position.
posted by archimago at 12:51 PM on October 21, 2002

I think she's been "rubbed the right way" far too many times...
posted by Resonance at 12:54 PM on October 21, 2002

The cave that I live in can be so dark and damp ...

... here's the video for your viewing pleasure.
posted by mrmcsurly at 1:00 PM on October 21, 2002

damn it, she's just trying to earn a living. can't you people leave her alone?
posted by tolkhan at 1:02 PM on October 21, 2002

This is really ironic when you consider that she's essentially competing with Britany for the "almost teen-porn" market. Whatta midriff
posted by lumpenprole at 1:10 PM on October 21, 2002

As RJReynoldsNYC said about that video, "Mistakes were made, okay?" I think he was referring to the heinous costume design and cluttered art direction, but maybe he knew about the posters? Regardless, I'm not sure how Christina re-hashing of Britney's "Slave 4 U" video qualifies as not "sticking to the norm."
posted by arielmeadow at 1:10 PM on October 21, 2002

LaChapelle -- more interesting as a photographer than as video director

you can say that again. such a vivid photog, such a banal auteur. his moving images are utterly devoid of the gift for composition he exhibits in his still work.
posted by donkeyschlong at 1:12 PM on October 21, 2002

"it can't be as bad (or as unintentionally hilarious) as the Traci Lords album "1000 Fires"."

i actually liked that cd... especially the one that was like, "okey dokey doggy daddy?"
posted by lotsofno at 1:20 PM on October 21, 2002

Wow! Who was that - Marilyn Chambers? Chistina Aguilera? Never mind......
posted by Pressed Rat at 1:56 PM on October 21, 2002

This chick is about 2 small steps away from hardcore porn.

Away from or beyond?
posted by oissubke at 2:04 PM on October 21, 2002

at least the song is different from all the other pop queen crap. and at least hers doesn't mention anything about being anyone's slave. more empowering in my book. even if sleazy (ya know, at least it doesn't take a few albums to realize her sexuality!)
posted by evening at 2:19 PM on October 21, 2002

wait - you mean that video wasn't *meant* to be an advertisement for the Thai sex industry?

(I guess I'll go unpack my bags, now....)

Ahem. riiiight.
posted by jaded at 2:22 PM on October 21, 2002

I'm with evening.

I like an honest adverstisment for the underage sex industry ;)
posted by Yelling At Nothing at 2:43 PM on October 21, 2002

Best Review of the video I've seen so far: http://www.retrocrush.com/babes/dirty/index.html
posted by qDot at 2:51 PM on October 21, 2002

This chick is about 2 small steps away from hardcore porn.

Two more steps... Come on Christina, you can do it...
posted by swank6 at 2:53 PM on October 21, 2002

I thought the "Heroin Chic" look was out?

I am taking wagers on who will pose for Playboy first:

Brittany or Christina....
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 3:20 PM on October 21, 2002

Has everyone forgotten that Ms. Spears has been hanging with PQ Jenna Jamison for most of the year? Enjoying the latter's oevre together? Just more of groovin' wit' da crowd.

Anyway, posing for Playboy no longer what it once was--how else to explain this month's cover girl, Kristy Swanson?
posted by billsaysthis at 3:32 PM on October 21, 2002

She's got too big off an ass for the "heroin chic" look.

I never saw the video and at the video link I couldnt get any sound but I did catch the SNL parody which was probably better than the original.
posted by Recockulous at 3:49 PM on October 21, 2002

i like it when she tries to talk like a black girl
posted by tsarfan at 4:07 PM on October 21, 2002

sex and violence.
posted by Hall at 4:09 PM on October 21, 2002

Two Thanksgivings ago, when flying back from NYC, where I'd been visiting family and saw the Macy's parade, I had the not-entirely-life-altering luck of being essentially alone (with 2 family members) on a plane with the Aguileras (Christina had been in the parade). Christina and her boyfriend flew first class, everyone else (parents, brother, 300 lb bodyguard) flew coach, although the pair came back to join them midway. They, for whatever reason, were crawling all over the seats, although at least they were polite enough not to make too much noise. I refused to let my sister get her autograph.
posted by gsteff at 4:14 PM on October 21, 2002

You know, this video rreally makes me want to give herr a call and ask herr out on a date. Anyone have herr phone numberr?
posted by dopamine at 4:17 PM on October 21, 2002

dopamine: - 1-976-CA THAI SEX

I gotta admit I don't have a clue what is going on with the repeated "double r" on your comment.
posted by ?! at 4:28 PM on October 21, 2002

it's because she's "dirrrrrrty!"

tsarfan: i like it when she tries to talk like a black girl

me too. Her presentation at the MTV Video Music Awards was laughable. Tried to be all down with the homies, slurring her words like she was too bothered to quit the spliff. Please.

I hear she wants to be called "Xtina" now. Girl's got issues. Sad thing is, she's got talent in her voice!
posted by Fofer at 4:49 PM on October 21, 2002

Xtina? As in Christina...?


Is this some feminist thing, like getting "Chris" out of her name, or something?

Very confused...
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 5:38 PM on October 21, 2002

It's probably like referring to Christians as Xians, or Christmas as X-mas, X resembling the Greek letter chi (I think). I wonder where she's going with that one...
posted by UKnowForKids at 6:29 PM on October 21, 2002

Well. I liked the video.
posted by delmoi at 7:15 PM on October 21, 2002

Personally, I think she'd be more attractive if she, um, smiled more. But maybe that's old fashioned.
posted by gsteff at 7:30 PM on October 21, 2002

you gotta catch "the making of the video" sometime on mtv. a bit more revealing than the video.

when I saw "the making of", the program following was one about her trip to some country to see her fans... about a million LITTLE girls. ..she was eating up the publicity and the fandom. pre-teens, oh yes, to get them started early. dirty...
posted by tomplus2 at 8:29 PM on October 21, 2002

you gotta catch "the making of the video" sometime on mtv.

Yeah, but then you would have to waste your time watching MTV...
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 8:33 PM on October 21, 2002

I don't understand the current sentiment against her... I think she looks better than ever. At the very least, she looks A LOT more fun than she used to.

Go get your boring Britney Spears.. I'll take Christina any day.
posted by eas98 at 6:27 AM on October 22, 2002

Go get your boring Britney Spears.. I'll take Christina any day.

*Puts on Mary Margaret O'Hara's Miss America AGAIN.*

Sorry what did you say? I couldn't hear you because I was listening to actual music.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:31 AM on October 22, 2002

I've got two words:

PATTI SMITH

Thank you.
posted by i_cola at 6:45 AM on October 22, 2002

Also:

LYDIA LUNCH

(Tho' I may be alone there.)
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:56 AM on October 22, 2002

and how about some KIM GORDON...

it's ludicrous that the fact that whoever bought the poster was a "non-Thai speaker" is supposed to be some kind of excuse. reminds me of the Asian-letter-tattoo fad where what was supposed to say "fierce tiger" or something really read as "murderer." here's the thing: maybe you should have FOUND OUT what it said. maybe other languages are for people to communicate with, not just to adorn Western video sets.
posted by capiscum at 8:18 AM on October 22, 2002

C'mon, I don't believe for a minute that they "didn't know what the sign meant." (Sounds like spin control to me.) I mean, watch the video! The signs match the theme perfectly.

If the signs were just random things they'd picked up in Thailand, they'd say, "Caution: Drive Slowly" or "Currency Conversion, Dollars and Baht"

These were intentionally picked, or designed for the video. They just didn't think it was something they'd get in trouble with. Or maybe they did -- either way, we're talking about it, which was the goal of the video in the first place.
posted by Fofer at 8:42 AM on October 22, 2002

that reminds me of a T-shirt i saw at urban outfitters about a year ago, which had "i am a stupid american" written proudly across its chest in japanese...
posted by lilikoi at 10:49 AM on October 22, 2002

Foyer : We're not alone in viewing this with cynicism.

It is hard to imagine that a multimillion dollar video meant for generating worldwide sales of her record has passed through teams of creative, production & studio folks without any one paying any attention to set / background details. Perhaps, the creative juices behind the video were too concentrated on ensuring a perfect match of the song and Ms Aguilera's antics in the ring ;-) .

Nothing like having controversies to create interest in a shortlife product in a tough market saturated with nubile talents & wannabes. Between being a persona non grata of Thailand and going platinum with her record sale, which do you is desired ? I'll leave it to the fans of Ms Aguilera to speak up for her. Having said that, let me add that Ms Aguilera may not be the one directly responsible, but nonetheless she has to bear some blame by association.


Yeah, but then you would have to waste your time watching MTV...

Steve_at_Linnwood: we sing the same tune here...but if i choose to waste a few minutes, it'll be on Shakira . Gosh, she gyrates like a mini-cyclone.
posted by taratan at 11:50 AM on October 22, 2002