And she almost got away with it.
Erykah Badu’s new video for “Window Seat,” in which the singer both strips naked on a Dallas street and consistently evokes the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, has been a bit of an internet sensation. Googlers have been looking for the video (and an uncut version, they hope) all week, and interest hasn’t seem to have abated. But all this free publicity is coming at a (relatively minor) cost to Badu.
The Dallas PD is citing the singer for stripping in Dealey Plaza last moth, a Disorderly Conduct charge with a $500 fine. The charge, “about as serious as a traffic ticket,” only came about because the video went viral. Although the Dallas PD originally wasn’t going to do anything because there were not complaints, Dallas Police Deputy Chief Mike Genovesi says in the ensuing brouhaha, one complaining witness came forward:
Genovesi said police had one witness had come forward Thursday, and told authorities that she “observed Ms. Badu remove her clothing on the public street. The witness had two small children with her and was offended.”
The citation is a Class C misdemeanor, and Badu doesn’t even have to appear in court for it. Representatives for Badu did not comment on the new development. In case you missed it, the offending video is below.