Here’s the hidden meaning behind Selena’s “Fetish” music video
Selena Gomez’s music video for “Fetish” wasn’t your typical fetish video.
Sure, it was vaguely sexual, but it was mostly dark, disturbing, and kind of confusing.
Why was Selena licking glass and sticking her tongue in an eyelash curler? Did she want to remind us she’s all grown up, was she trying to be purposefully provocative to get buzz, or was this just a sign that IRL she’s an artsy weirdo at heart?
As it turns out, the answer is kind of more nuanced, but kind of just that Selena’s a weirdo just like us.
READ ALSO: Selena Gomez’s “Fetish” music video is kinda sexual, kinda disturbing
In a joint interview for Dazed Digital with “Fetish” director and all around artsy wunderkind Petra Collins, we learned that the main inspiration for “Fetish” was horror movies.
“Um, do you think people would be shocked to know that ‘Fetish’ came out of our discovery that we were both avid horror fans?” Petra asked Selena.
Selena replied, “Until you came over in the middle of the day and found me in my living room sitting on a big teddy bear watching ‘Chuckie’ so casually and then you came and laid with me.”
Selena continued:
“I made it very clear to you that I didn’t see ‘Fetish’ how most people know the word at face value. When most people hear the word ‘Fetish’, they think of S&M and all that sexual shit, but you didn’t. You knew why I loved it. You told me, ‘I think this song is about love, something crazy and complicated.’ I wanted the video to be contextualized.”
“I love the video because it shows the very dirty, gross and weird love you can have towards someone,” Petra added. “This is how obsessive some people get and how they release.”
True. The last time I was that obsessed with somebody I also rolled around on my egg and glass covered floor to fully lean in to the moment.
Petra went on to make a point about how IRL women aren’t really allowed to lose control of their emotions without being called either crazy or PMS-y. And on the rare occasions when they lose control, they’re not really supposed to be that weird about it. So giving Selena the space to express that side of herself and come off looking strong was pretty much the point of the music video.
Plus, as Selena points out, “if a guy shot ‘Fetish,’ I bet it would look way more sexual.”
I bet it would, Selena. I bet it would.
[H/T Dazed Digital]