BET Bans Nicki Minaj's 'Stupid Hoe' Music Video

She might've raked in some admirable major Grammy nominations, but BET has let Nicki Minaj know she can keep her latest clip.

A BET rep that spoke with TMZ about banning Minaj's "Stupid Hoe" video wouldn't disclose why the network nixed the clip, but the blog claims that other nameless sources within the network said the clip was considered "too explicit."

The chorus does include Minaj repeating the phrase "You a stupid hoe" numerous times and she does lace the remaining lyrics with profanity, including numerous F-bombs. Minaj herself said previously "Can't premiere it on a network because it's important that my art is not tampered with, or compromised prior to you viewing it for the first time," suggesting the first time seeing it should be the uncut, explicit format.

Here's that explicit cut. Figuring out why BET can't air this one won't exhaust too many brain cells.

And now, the "clean" version. The chorus remains the same, but yes, Minaj and director Hype Williams did go back go back and tidy up some language.

So - this was too much for BET?

Well, it should probably be prefaced with the epileptic-seizure warning that most video games and video game consoles include. And it's definitely an irritating, fairly stupid song. And the anime-sized eyes kept trying to steal my soul while I watched both versions. The objection to the repeated word "hoe" is understandable - even if it's scads less derogatory than even some of the cleaned-up lyrics about women that get BET airtime because when Minaj is using it here, it's without sexually explicit context.

(Consider also that this is one of the major media outlets that keeps ensuring Chris Brown can keep his lights on after treating Rihanna like a speed bag.)

But . . . "banned?"

The speculation is that BET nixed it because it features plenty of Minaj dancing in a cage wearing a thong.

So BET - of all the possible networks that could raise a fuss over this - gets uncomfortable about a woman gyrating in a thong?

*Blink*

*Blink, Blink*

Folks, I'm 29 years old. I was a junior in high school when Dr. Dre released 2001. Know what video was on BET constantly back in 2000?

(With, I swear, only the lyrics cleaned up?)

Well, correction: they did occasionally play something else . . .

Y'know, at least when MTV banned "This Note's For You," they made it pretty clear to Neil Young that they simply didn't want to piss off Pepsi or Coca-Cola by airing a video in which an artist takes a shot across the bow at both major advertisers and corporate sponsors.

I really think BET just figures their audience is every ounce as stupid as their programming executives.