It goes without saying that producers SHOULD have the safety and wellbeing of their cast and crew as a first priority when creating music videos. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case in MGMT’s music video for Kids. I stumbled across the video while searching for some stylistic inspiration for my group’s music video, and was appalled at what I saw. The video centres on a baby being harassed and groped at by a series of disfigured monsters. I thought that, surely, it wasn’t really shot with a bunch of people in costumes terrifying this poor child- I was wrong.

MGMT’s website proudly states that “No children were harmed in the making of this video”, but I find that a little hard to believe. MTV has since noted that “They really don’t make videos like this any more … mostly for legal reasons”, and MGMT’s response to the controversy came in the form of a Behind The Scenes video which shows exactly how the crew manipulated an 18 month old child to perform the way they wanted. The behind the scenes video is conveniently made up mostly of footage of the baby having fun with the puppets and sure, between takes he may look happy, but an experience like that can traumatise someone so young for life.

I have always loved this song and will continue to do so, but I think this approach to making Music Videos is appalling. FOR SHAME!