Hollywood Popular Artists

Jul 23rd 2012, 19:30

By Zachary Swickey

While Nicki Minaj is no stranger to controversy, the newest complaint targeting the singer is rather unique – British TV channel Starz TV is being publicly criticized by a media regulatory group for not warning viewers that Minaj's video for "Beez in the Trap" could cause seizures in people with epilepsy.

Apparently, UK media regulator Ofcom is taking issue with the clip's many flashing lights, saying there are five sections in the "Beez in the Trap" video in which lighting levels surpass prescribed guidelines. Ofcom states that Starz TV, which went into liquidation on June 22, endangered any viewers who have epilepsy.

Their report states: "While Ofcom acknowledges that the licensee broadcast this music video in good faith, it is the responsibility of all broadcasters to ensure compliance with the Code before transmitting any material. On this occasion the licensee had failed to check and correctly identify broadcast material as problematic in advance of transmission."

Believe-it-or-not, these types of warnings are not the rarest thing in music videos. Jay-Z and Kanye had to put such a statement before their "N**gas in Paris" video, which Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy was quite thankful for.

The Throne's "Paris" video is filled with strobe lights and quick edits. The warning before their video read, "This video has been identified by Epilepsy Action to potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised."

Another organization – the Epilepsy Therapy Project – was also quite thankful, telling TMZ it "appreciates the sensitivities that Kanye and Jay Z showed in appropriately warning individuals with photosensitive epilepsy that their video may cause seizures."

Check out the "Beez in the Trap" video below. Flashing lights (and some explicit language!), so ... viewer discretion advised.

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