CENSOR THIS

WATCH: The Perfume Genius Clip That Got Banned By YouTube For “Adult Content”

Part of the nature of YouTube’s DIY infrastructure is that it often relies on viewers to flag material as inappropriate. That’s great if someone is posting nude videos of their unsuspecting neighbor, but not so great when homophobes use it to block totally non-obscene material they don’t like.

That’s what we imagine has happened with the 15-second ad for Perfume Genius‘ new album, Put Your Back N 2 It (above, and totally SFW), coming out on February 20. In the clip, out singer Mike Hadreas is cradled by a hunky, hairy he-man.

Nils Bernstein of Matador Records emailed to tell us the teaser clip had been rejected by YouTube and the label received the following message:

The ad has been disapproved because it violates our Adult Image/Video Content policy. Per this policy, video content, audio, static imagery, and site content must be family safe. Any ads that contain non family safe material are disapproved… the overall feeling of the video is one of a more adult nature, including promoting mature sexual themes and what appears to be nude content. As such, the video is non family safe.  In order to have this video ad approved, you will need to bring it into compliance with our policy.

As Bernstein rightly points out, “I can’t imagine that a ‘straight’ version of this ad wouldn’t pass.  Our entire office (90% straight, for what it’s worth) was genuinely surprised by this one. Especially given their impassioned pleas last week about free speech and anti-Internet-censorship.”

Could it YouTube be skittish because Mike’s co-star in the benign clip is none other than (a non-nude) porn star Arpad Miklos? Bernstein said Matator asked for clarification from the site twice but has gotten no response.

If you’re intrigued by the tune in the clip, “All Waters,” listen to it here —and check out Perfume Genius’ video for “Hood” below. Miklos makes an appearance there as well.

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