Watch Rihanna and Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" Video Ft. Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan — Powerful or Over the Top?

Rihanna and Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" Video Ft. Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan — Powerful or Over the Top?

August 6, 2010

Rihanna and Eminem's highly anticipated video for their single, "Love the Way You Lie" was released last night and is already making headlines. Megan Fox and Lost's Dominic Monaghan star in the story about a troubled couple in a volatile relationship. Megan reportedly donated her fee for the video to Sojourn, an LA shelter for battered women and their families. The topic is something that is obviously close to Rihanna's heart, and Eminem spoke about working with the director to make something important and thought-provoking. Check out the video below and tell us what you think — powerful or over the top?

34 Comments

2 years 37 weeks

To #7 and #8 it is like #6 said. Yes, it is romantisized a bit to much. I mean I don't remember kissing and getting it on in the middle of getting beat on, but the point is they say "oh baby i will never do it again" and they mean it at that moment. And b/c in their own "sick" way they do love you. You two ARE in love. Most women never leave or they keep going back. I understand the video but I guess you would have to live it to understand it. You're in love, you're co-dependent on one another. It's more like an addiction. Even though you may want out you are so in love with them that it keeps you from leaving and you want to believe them so badly when they are saying they wont do it again even though you know deep down that they will. It is a sickness, just like an addiction. It "IS" an addiction. You love them, you want out of a bad thing, you love em too much to go...and you dont want anyone else to have them.

2 years 39 weeks

Absolutely a violent relationship can only end badly if maintained and we must encourage people not to enter into, allow them to occur, get trapped in such a relationship. The music video is faithful to the song and is powerful because of it, the song suggests much more than the video, so its interpretation requires a mature audience or at least some guidance, even if the guidance is a simplistic "hitting bad, don't watch it". What may be more interesting is that a love that can bind people together like this is so strong that nothing else matters. It is a love we (at least most) all want to feel because it also makes us powerful. When its right, it drives us to achieve greatness and exceed our limitations, and build on each others strengths. When its wrong ....well watch the video. People with this capacity for love can also direct it towards abstract concepts such as love for for country, faith or cause. When this happens, think of moon landings, the great cathedrals, stonehenge, the pyramids, the mona lisa, and devastating wars. The best and the worst we have done has always been driven by passion.

2 years 39 weeks

This video is right on with abusive relationships. I was in one and was the receiver of the abuse. I finally fell out of love with him and made him leave. Got even with his house (soul).

dreamalittledream 2 years 41 weeks

i consider this video both powerful and over-romanticizing. I've been in an abusive relationship, and like this video, it's both. You don't stay with someone that abuses you if there isn't something there. It's two extremes, and this video portrays that to a tee. You can't show one side and not the other-abusive relationships survive because there is that romantic 'something'...it's an amazing video that (in my opinion) shows an abusive relationship in a true nature. However, I think it's important to note that abusive relationships happen to people in every sociodemographic level-not just the lower class/'trailer trash'

commonsense102 2 years 41 weeks

Hmmm.... Really this is suppose to be a powerful message... I guess to me it just sounds like songs in from his other albums about how much he hates women... his ex-wife, mariah carey, some random groupie. He's had some pretty hate-filled rants.Uummm I don't think Eminem's ever shown any public remorse for his public verbal abuse of his daughter's mother... so is he really the new spokesmen for DV... But hey what's a little POISON when is SWEETENED with a hooky little chorus by Rihanna as she sings along with a guy who seems oddly familiar to chris brown

commonsense102 2 years 41 weeks

Hmmm.... Really this is suppose to be a powerful message... I guess to me it just sounds like songs in from his other albums about how much he hates women... his ex-wife, mariah carey, some random groupie. He's had some pretty hate-filled rants. Uummm I don't think Eminem's ever shown any public remorse for his public verbal abuse of his daughter's mother... so is he really the new spokesmen for DV... But hey what's a little POISON when is SWEETENED with a hooky little chorus by Rihanna as she sings along with a guy who seems oddly familiar to chris brown

2 years 41 weeks

This song/video definitely glorifies domestic violence. Lyrics like "if she ever tries to f**kin' leave again I'ma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire" worry me - that actually happened to a woman in my area, except she was shot, not tied to a bed. Her husband who didn't want her to leave set the house on fire with her in it.

azh 2 years 41 weeks

...HOT...

azh 2 years 41 weeks

...HOT...

2 years 41 weeks

I finally saw the video all the way through. I found it intense as I have been through relationships a lot like that. As an anonymous had said *2 above me* it is an endless circle.

2 years 41 weeks

The video is showing that violence is a circle, until someone breaks it. It's going to start all over again - Megan Fox's character will wake up and see the writing on his hand and it will all keep happening until someone stops it. I don't like Megan Fox, but I respect her for doing this video and for donating her fee. Powerful video, and the song is incredible and really encapsulates what relationships like this are like.

2 years 41 weeks

i dont know why you say it romanticize violence none of them at almost any point look happy, the ending of the video is the begining, love this video and song it gives you something to think about even if we dont agree with what we take of it, better than everything out there right now

zeze 2 years 41 weeks

Even in a role Megan Fox was born to play...trashy, her acting was still lacking. And honestly, maybe my experiences are limited, but in relationships like the one portrayed, both people deserve what they get, its like they enjoy the drama and for no purpose - just lame people who don't have the brains to better their lives, so they play the victim (again, NOT ALL domestic violence, but the passionate love-hate crap shown in this video) - it makes me not feel for women like her as I would have in a different portrayal. So, ya I guess the video failed for me.

zeze 2 years 41 weeks

2 years 41 weeks

AMAZING!!!! In love with the video and song.

2 years 41 weeks

That is why music is like art, left up to interpretation.Though I have seen many relationships like this, I think it's just showing at the end how ppl stay in this love/hate unhealthy relationships and how it's volatile. You can't let music, Movies, or TV teach your children you have to promote discussion with them about these topics. Although I don't have children yet I discussed with my niece and nephew when the Rihanna/Chris Brown situation happened. I emphasized the pre school rule we all learn and some forget. "Keep your hands to yourself" and get this one... it's not OK for girls to hit or provoke boys either.

2 years 41 weeks

I agree with anon 8. It does seem to sex up or romanticize domestic violence. It doesn't come across as "powerful" to me just sort of pretentious. A lot of women are abused in relationships without provoking it. It's nice that she donated her fee to help women in need.

elramos 2 years 41 weeks

I think a lot of you are underestimating teenagers. Anyone with a quarter sized brain will understand that what is happening in the video isn't something they should want. Also, this is not directed towards children. Eminem and Rihanna are adults, this isn't a Selena Gomez video.

sugarplumfairy 2 years 41 weeks

i used to love megan fox until i read this post and see she stars in this. i have no respect for eminimim or rehanna.

2 years 41 weeks

Good points all! Overall, I love the video and feel that is accurately portrays the cycle of violence in a relationship. From my point of view, I felt that the message was clear re: violence and destruction. However, I can appreciate the need for a clearer message for a younger audience. Prehaps they could add a quick PSA from Eminem & Rihanna at the end addressing the subject? And I agree, this should win awards. It's spot on and courageous!

jelleebeen 2 years 41 weeks

I think the imagery was pretty clear -- passionate, but violent relationships are destructive in the end (fire = destruction). That said, I hear what some of you are saying about the majority of viewers being teens. If they're going to go there with this kind of subject matter, the message should perhaps be clearer for that audience.

2 years 41 weeks

i don't think anyone was denying that people in violent relationships love each other, but just because it's love doesn't mean it's healthy. romanticizing violence in a relationship (especially to a teen and young adult audience) kind of implies that nothing necessarily needs to change... when people are in relationships like this they need to know that they actually can change the way they approach the relationship so that they are treating each other (and themselves) better.

2 years 41 weeks

I agree with Anon 8 - Anon 11, totally understand what you are saying, because I have been in a relationship like that myself, but the thing is, if you really love someone, at some point you need to look at what is best for someone, and I guarantee its not a violent/unhealthy relationship. I think the song brings attention to a realistic, even common issue in relationships, but romanticizing it isn't the answer or the cure. People, especially many young teen girls, need to know its never, ever okay for violence to be a major dominating theme in any relationship. Violence does not equal passion or love, but it will eventually consume the people involved, burning their lives to ashes and ruining the relationship with it. If that is the message of the song, good, but I think the music video needs more of an explanation to go with it than just itself, especially considering both singers' pasts (Rihanna's abuse, Em's tattoo that suggests his currently living wife "rest in pieces", etc...) Without more of an explanation, I would have to say this video is romanticizing dysfunctional, abusive lifestyles. Not okay.

2 years 41 weeks

To number 8 and 9 I don't know if you've ever been in that type of relationship, by the sounds of it I'm guess you haven't but that song and video go perfectly with how some relationships are. That song and video are my brother and his girlfriend to a T. It scares me with how much they fight, they are constantly hitting and screaming at each other. Then an hour later its like it never even happened, they are laughing and telling one each other "I Love You". Is it healthy for them to stay together, of course not but they do it anyway because as much as they hate each other they also love each other. In my opinion that song and video accurately describes a relationship with two people who just cant seem to walk away.

Claudia Lopez 2 years 41 weeks

Wow, just wow! I think is an amazing song and a great video, but after I read Anonymous #8 comment it got me thinking... maybe this video is kind of "romanticize violence", and it may have a strong influence in the young people watching this, and this isnt the kind of message they should take.

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34 Comments

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