Rapper’s ‘ginger genocide’ video is banned from YouTube within hours

A shocking music video by London rapper M.I.A. depicting the genocide of redheads has been banned by YouTube.

The nine-minute film for her new single Born Free was pulled within hours of being put online by the 34-year-old Hounslow-born star.

The storyline of the video, which features strong violence and nudity, sees ginger-haired people being rounded up by heavily armed guards into armoured vehicles. They are then driven into a remote part of a desert where they are beaten, shot or made to run through a minefield.

The video was directed by French director Romain Gavras, who has worked with Justice, The Last Shadow Puppets and Simian Mobile Disco.

The rapper, real name Maya Arulpragasam, is known for her strong political views and has been heavily critical of the treatment of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. She was nominated for an Oscar for her track O... Saya which was on the soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire and last year Time magazine placed M.I.A. in the Time 100 list of "world's most influential people" for having "global influence across many genres".

Her latest video is by far her most controversial. The harsh treatment of redheads in the film supposedly highlights racial discrimination and many believe she is drawing parallels with the treatment of the Tamil people by the Sri Lankan government, and packaging it in a way that Western audiences can relate to.

Within a few hours of its release on YouTube and her own website yesterday, it attracted hundreds of comments from shocked viewers. One user, riissa473, wrote: "Um creative if anything... I like M.I.A. but not this video... probably never watch it again, it just ruined my appetite..."

FrenchAurelie commented: "To be honest, I feel a bit sick now that I've watched the whole video."

A spokesman for M.I.A. was unavailable for comment.