{"id":807977,"date":"2020-06-01T08:29:18","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T14:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/?p=1007933"},"modified":"2020-06-01T08:29:18","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T14:29:18","slug":"youtube-removes-then-reinstates-rock-duo-man-on-mans-lgbtq-themed-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/music-news\/youtube-removes-then-reinstates-rock-duo-man-on-mans-lgbtq-themed-video\/","title":{"rendered":"YouTube Removes, Then Reinstates, Rock Duo Man on Man\u2019s LGBTQ-Themed Video"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Last week, MAN ON MAN, a new rock duo created by Faith No More<\/a> keyboardist Roddy Bottum and his musical partner and boyfriend Joey Holman, released the video for their first single \u201cDaddy.\u201d The clip, which featured Bottum and Holman embracing in their tighty-whiteys, sharing a banana Lady and the Tramp<\/em>-style, and seductively pulling on each other\u2019s underwear, was not without its sexual overtones but featured no nudity and paled in comparison to some of YouTube\u2019s more overtly sexual videos by A-list artists.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe statement of the song and video for \u2018Daddy\u2019 maybe is a celebration of love in isolation and is a love letter to the not-so-distant past of a place and time where we communed physically together with our queer community,\u201d Bottum told Rolling Stone<\/em><\/a> last week.<\/p>\n

Content managers at YouTube thought otherwise. In a message to the group shortly after the clip\u2019s release, an employee for the platform said they removed the video for violating \u201cour sex and nudity policy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to us that YouTube is a safe place for all,\u201d the note, obtained by Rolling Stone<\/em>, read. \u201cIf content breaks our rules, we remove it. Graphic sexual content that is meant to be sexually gratifying is not allowed on YouTube. Because it\u2019s the first time, this is just a warning. If it happens again, your channel will get a strike and you won\u2019t be able to do things like upload, post, or live stream for one week.\u201d The company added the group was welcome to appeal the decision via an online form.<\/p>\n

Following a request for comment by Rolling Stone,<\/em> a rep for the company said the platform made a mistake and reinstated the clip. \u201cWith the massive volume of videos on our site, sometimes we make the wrong call,\u201d the rep tells Rolling Stone.<\/em> \u201cWhen it\u2019s brought to our attention that a video has been removed mistakenly, we act quickly to reinstate it. We also offer uploaders the ability to appeal removals and we will re-review the content.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the group was happy to see the video back on their platform \u2014 they had uploaded it to Vimeo as a substitute in the interim \u2014 they assailed YouTube for their original decision that they claim is arbitrary and discriminatory.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s clear tech companies are lacking in representation and therefore discriminate against skin color, age, sex, and sexuality,\u201d the group tells Rolling Stone.<\/em> \u201cEven if YouTube does value and promote diversity, the truth is, the industry is still playing by straight men\u2019s rules. It\u2019s devaluing when we see Google monopolize on our Pride but do so little to actually enhance and protect the LGBTQIA+ digital experience. We\u2019re asking for an equitable playing field.\u201d<\/p>\n