In the one-take video for “Window Seat,” R&B singer Erykah Badu walks along Dallas’ Elm Street, taking off articles of clothing as the song progresses. Finally, completely nude (but blurred), she falls down in Dealey Plaza, near the site of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, as if she herself were shot. The singer said her video, released in March 2010, was a protest against groupthink and a culture that discourages individual expression. But Badu’s move wasn’t only controversial — according to the city of Dallas, it was also illegal, as Badu never got a permit to film. After a Dallas resident filed a complaint, Badu was charged with disorderly conduct. She paid a $500 fine and served six months’ probation.
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