Rihanna's controversial video We Found Love banned in France

Art imitating life? Rihanna and Dudley O'Shaughnessy allude to her abusive relationship with Chris Brown in the video for new single We Found Love

Rihanna's new video We Found Love has already drawn controversy by appearing to allude to her abusive relationship with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown.
But now it appears French authorities believe the video could inspire 'self-destructive behaviour' after banning it from being shown before 10pm.
The promo details a destructive relationship between a couple - played by Rihanna and model Dudley O'Shaughnessy - and features shoplifting, smoking and the singer being slapped on the bottom.


Although the single has proved popular with music downloaders, the Supreme Audiovisual Council of France ruled the video is too explicit for daytime television and can only be broadcast after 10pm.
They also thought more romantic scenes between Rihanna and O'Shaughnessy were 'pronounced suggestive'.
Earlier this year, the video to her single S&M was banned from several countries after being deemed too sexually explicit for broadcast.

Physical: Despite a magical start to the video, things turn sour when Rihanna's love interest lays a hand on her

While there are no gratuitous scenes of violence, the guy does grab the Barbadian beauty and inks the word 'mine' on her derriere.

The video ends when a pushed-to-the-limit Rihanna gathers the strength to leave the dysfunctional relationship.
The promo has drawn comparisons to Rihanna's infamous relationship with Brown, which ended following an altercation after a pre-Grammys party in February 2009.
Brown was arrested and charged with assault and making criminal threats.

Distraught: Rihanna seems to be in despair as her love interest from the video turns angry and aggressive

During the court case in June, Brown pleaded guilty and received five years probation and ordered to stay fifty yards away from Rihanna, unless at public events, when it was reduced to 10 yards.

Talking about the video, Rihanna said: 'We’ve never done a video like this before.
'This is probably one of the deepest videos I’ve ever done. It’s all about love and love being like a drug… you definitely get that from this.
'The good feeling of it and the dangers of it. That’s what this video is about.'

Bathtime: A fully-clothed Rihanna climbs on top of her beau as they have a bath together

The video opens with Rihanna, putting on an Irish accent, narrating the beginning of the story, saying: 'I saw you screaming when no-one can hear. You always feel ashamed that someone could be that important that without them, you feel like nothing.
'No one will ever understand how much it hurts. You feel hopeless, like nothing can save you. Then when it's over, it's gone, you almost wish you could have all that bad stuff back, so that you can have the good.'
Rihanna and London-born former boxer Dudley are then seen going headfirst into a passionate, physical relationship - unable to bear to be apart from one another for even a second.
Smoking cigarettes, that appear to be marijuana, and drinking alcohol, their relationship involves going on a rollercoaster as they indulge in fairground rides, raves and passionate outdoor romps.

Frolicking: The sight of Rihanna running around topless on his field was enough for one farmer to ask her to leave

In fact, it was these romps which caused 61-year-old farmer Alan Graham to ask Rihanna to leave his field, after being shocked at the antics going on between the singer and Dudley.
The devout Christian farmer said at the time: 'If someone wants to borrow my field and things become inappropriate, then I say, "Enough is enough".
'I wish no ill will against Rihanna and her friends. Perhaps they could acquaint themselves with a greater God.'
The video, which features an intense 'Sex, Drugs, and Money' theme, was directed by Melina Matsoukas, who also did the videos for Rude Boy, Rockstar 101, Hard and S&M - which brought Rihanna plenty of controversy as well as a lawsuit that she just settled.

Lighting up: Rihanna helps Dudley light a pack of cigarettes at one time