Review of 'Blurred Lines':
Erin Burnett: We are live on CNN, with the blurry lines of "Blurred Lines." Please welcome Dean Obeidallah, Reihan Salam, and Stephanie Miller. Thank you for joining myself, Erin Burnett, for the discussion of the latest number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100, Blurred Lines. There is a second version of this video where the women are all naked, I'm sure you've seen it. The lyrics follow as, "I know you want it but you're a good girl, I know you want it." I'm not going to read all the words as they get much more explicit than that, is this promoting rape?
Dean Obeidallah: Honestly, I don't think so at all. I'm involved in a group that counters domestic violence with women. I think its playful, i think it's the song, it's upbeat and fun. Sure you know it degrades women a little bit, Robin Thicke even admitted that in an interview, but sex sells. Audience members should recognize this video as one promoting a fantasy rather than the degradation of women that most people have taken away from it. It its a bazar music video who's intention is to attract attention rather than promote any form of rape culture. If this were at all advocating rape or violence against women, I would be speak out against it immediately.
Erin Burnett: Reihan you're giving me this dull expression, do you disagree that this is promoting rape?
Reihan Salam: Erin I'm with Dean on this one, there's a man with a syringe who is pretending to inject the syringe into a women's bottom, there's a women holding a lamb affectionately in her arm as though the lamb is possibly her lover. This song is about fantasy, it's about role play, and more importantly it's about entertainment, which is why it has become so popular and viral. This song sells and to sell a product is the entire purpose of Robin Thicke's creation. I don't think that he is trying to promote rape or the degradation of women at all. I think he is appealing to a market that is entertained by fantasy.
Erin Burnett: I can see that the two of you are determined to deny the message of rape within this video, Stephanie what is your take on Blurred lines?
Stephanie Miller: The majority of the song has the R&B singer murmering, " I know you want it," over and over into a girl's ear.