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Lady Gaga's 'Do What U Want' music video shelved over sex assault controversy

Two men involved with the racy video have previously been accused of sexual misconduct.

By Annie Martin
Recording artist Lady Gaga arrives for the 41st annual American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on November 24, 2013. UPI/Phil McCarten
1 of 5 | Recording artist Lady Gaga arrives for the 41st annual American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on November 24, 2013. UPI/Phil McCarten | License Photo

NEW YORK, June 19 (UPI) -- New details further explain why Lady Gaga's "Do What U Want" music video was never released.

The 28-year-old singer cited time constraints and "those who have betrayed me" when she scrapped the project earlier this year, but Page Six reports the footage was also highly controversial.

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The video was directed by Terry Richardson, a photographer accused of sexual misconduct, and featured questionable sexual content between Lady Gaga and R. Kelly, who was tried and acquitted of child pornography charges.

"Gaga had a video directed by an alleged sexual predator, starring another sexual predator," a source tells the paper. "With the theme, 'I'm going to do whatever I want with your body'? It was literally an ad for rape."

The footage reportedly plays upon the singer's real-life hip injury last year, with R. Kelly as her doctor. When Lady Gaga asks if she will be able to walk again, the R&B singer responds, "Yes, if you let me do whatever I want with your body." He later adds, "I'm putting you under, and when you wake up, you're going to be pregnant."

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TMZ obtained a clip from the video Thursday. One scene shows the singer on a stretcher as R. Kelly touches her under a sheet, and another features Richardson as he snaps photos of a naked Lady Gaga.

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