NSFW 80s Music Videos: When MTV Censored the Hits
The 1980s were a wild ride for music videos. With MTV bursting onto the scene, artists suddenly had a whole new way to express themselves visually. And as you’d expect, plenty of them pushed the limits of what was considered acceptable. That led to a lot of controversy, a bunch of censorship, and in some cases, “clean” versions made just for TV. Here’s a dive into some of the most infamous and groundbreaking videos from the decade that stirred things up—why they were banned, what made them so shocking, and how they impacted pop culture.
Videos with Explicit Nudity
Soft Cell – “Sex Dwarf” (1981):
This is probably one of the most extreme videos ever made—not just for the ’80s, but even by today’s standards. Directed by Tim Pope, the video was a twisted, horror-inspired spectacle loaded with shocking visuals. Think simulated orgies, real sex workers, BDSM imagery, raw meat, and even maggots thrown on the performers. A UK club screening reportedly caused a riot, and the British police raided Soft Cell’s HQ and seized the footage. For years, rumors swirled that the video was lost or a publicity stunt, with band members denying it existed. Later, Marc Almond admitted the video caused major problems, including a fabricated tabloid story about a dwarf being drugged during filming. Despite the chaos, “Sex Dwarf” became legendary and helped cement the band’s cult following. It’s still banned from British TV.
>> Soft Cell – “Sex Dwarf” on TV80s.com <<
Ultravox – “Visions In Blue” (1983):
Not as over-the-top as “Sex Dwarf,” but still too much for TV at the time. This moody video featured artistic nudity—women bathing in a fireplace-lit room, meant to symbolize purity or vulnerability. It didn’t fly with networks like the BBC or early MTV, who banned it. A censored version was made so it could get any kind of airtime. It showed how powerful MTV’s censorship had quickly become.
>> Ultravox – “Visions In Blue” on TV80s.com <<
R.E.M. – “Pop Song 89” (1989):
Michael Stipe directed this one himself, featuring him and three topless women dancing in a minimalist black-and-white video. When MTV asked him to censor it, he made a statement: he put black bars over everyone’s chests—including his own—saying, “a nipple is a nipple.” It was a cheeky jab at double standards in censorship. The uncensored version eventually made it to YouTube in 2011 with an age restriction.
>> R.E.M. – “Pop Song 89” on TV80s.com <<
Belouis Some – “Imagination” (1985):
Directed by Storm Thorgerson (of Pink Floyd fame), this video was all about surreal dream sequences with full-frontal nudity. Belouis Some said it was meant to be artistic, not provocative, and that the team poured their own money into it. Still, most channels wouldn’t touch the original cut, so it was the censored version that got medium MTV rotation.
>> Belouis Some – “Imagination” on TV80s.com <<
Sabrina – “Boys (Summertime Love)” (1987):
Not banned per se, but definitely infamous. This video had Sabrina dancing in a pool with her bikini top constantly slipping—nip slips galore. Whether it was accidental or intentional, it caused a buzz. Broadcasters like the BBC had to censor it by cropping or adding black bars. The clip remains a huge hit online, partly because of its suggestive nature.
>> Sabrina – “Boys (Summertime Love)” on TV80s.com <<
Heavily Censored Videos:
Duran Duran – “Girls On Film” (1981):
Directed by Godley & Creme, this video had models wrestling in mud, simulated sex acts, and topless dancers. It was too risqué for early MTV and had to be heavily edited. Still, the uncensored version gained a cult following and helped give Duran Duran a reputation for being edgy. It even aired on adult channels like Playboy TV.
>> Duran Duran – “Girls On Film” on TV80s.com <<
Mötley Crüe – “Girls, Girls, Girls” (1987):
Filmed in a real strip club, the original version showed topless dancers and fit the band’s wild image perfectly. Director Wayne Isham sent the uncensored version to MTV knowing it would be rejected. They had to air a sanitized cut instead, while the full version found life on home video and later, the internet.
>> Mötley Crüe – “Girls, Girls, Girls” on TV80s.com <<
Guesch Patti – “Etienne” (1987):
This artsy black-and-white video had Patti doing a sensual striptease that ended in partial nudity. It was too much for many stations, which pushed it to late-night rotations. Despite that, or maybe because of it, the video helped make the song a big hit in Europe.
>> Guesch Patti – “Etienne” on TV80s.com <<
Extra:
Danuta Lato – “Touch My Heart” (1988):
Danuta was a glamour model and adult film actress before turning to music. Her video leaned into that image, featuring lots of cleavage and softcore aesthetics. It showed her in pastoral scenes, walking among sheep, playing on the contrast between innocence and sensuality. The video usually aired in late-night slots and became part of her international image—even if critics in Poland weren’t so thrilled.
>> Danuta Lato – “Touch My Heart” on TV80s.com <<
These videos pushed buttons and boundaries, some more successfully than others. Whether they were banned, edited, or hidden away, they all helped shape what music video censorship would look like for years to come.