FKA twigs' "Cellophane" video director hits out at similarities in Lil Nas X's latest video

29 March 2021, 10:04 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(FKA Twigs) (Lil Nas X)

Andrew Thomas Huang, the director of FKA twigs' "Cellophane" video, has called out Lil Nas X and his label for similarities in his latest video "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)".

Last Friday (26 March), Lil Nas X returned with his highly-anticipated new single "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)", which was accompanied by a CGI-heavy video directed by Tanu Muino and Lil Nas X.

Following the "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" video release, over the weekend FKA twigs' "Cellophane" video director Andrew Thomas Huang addressed similarities between the two.

He posted a TikTok video with both videos next to each other, showing the direct comparisons, and captioned the clip: "While I’m at it. Lil Nas X take me off your mood board or hire me."

@andrew.thomas.huang
While I’m at it. @lilnasx take me off your mood board or hire me. #lilnasx #fkatwiggs #fkatwigs
original sound - Andrew Thomas Huang

He went into more detail on his Instagram stories, revealing that Lil Nas X's label contacted him at the "end of last year. Pivoted away then hired the same choreographer from "Cellophane"."

Huang tagged Lil Nas X, Tanu Muino and Columbia Records, and continued, "Consider the power you wield and the artists you harm when you capitalise on our blood sweat tears and emotional labour."

In another IG story Huang said, "Sharing aesthetics, collaborators, artistic practices, and paying homage to inspirational works is common and part of the creative process. Ownership is a construct. Zeitgeist is real. Collective consciousness is inescapable."

The "Cellophane" director added, "Images are also expensive to make. Years of work went into the creation of "Cellophane", from physical training to the emotional labour of unpacking Twigs' life story to construct images that tell a story of trauma and recovery. "Cellophane" was a confession in the most vulnerable sense."

Huang also called on the music video community and Columbia Records to "respect directors, uphold artistic accountability and honour the ingenuity of artists dedicating their blood sweat and tears to imagine better futures amidst a broken industry."

The director of FKA twigs’s “Cellophane” video speaks out amidst Lil Nas X's “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” video controversy. pic.twitter.com/5nRhxPjv2V
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 28, 2021