Madonna has officially released what could be considered her most controversial music video.
Over the course of her groundbreaking career, the 64-year-old hitmaker has always faced a barrage of criticism which built her artistic legacy and helped her to change pop culture.
After shaking the world with songs like her 1989 hit 'Like A Prayer' and 1992's NSFW 'Erotica,' Madonna chose to embark on a new musical direction by releasing her 2003 song 'American Life'.
The video - which was directed by Jonas Akerlund - served as a graphic commentary on the then-imminent American invasion of Iraq and was filmed before the war began. It showed Madonna and her dancers dressed as soldiers and walking the catwalk at a fashion show.
Watch the 'American Life' music video below:It also displayed disinterested critics in the audience watching on as the fashion show turned violent as blood and guts started spilling everywhere and featured the songstress riding in a camo-painted car and throwing a live grenade into the crowd.
The music video never saw the light of day as on April 1, 2003, the 'Hung Up' singer announced that she wouldn't be releasing it due to the political climate at that time.
"I have decided not to release my new video. It was filmed before the war started and I do not believe it is appropriate to air it at this time. Due to the volatile state of the world and out of sensitivity and respect to the armed forces, who I support and pray for, I do not want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video," she said, per News.com.au.
According to the publication, the Queen of Pop further explained that while she has always welcomed controversy before with her earlier videos, she wanted to avoid putting her family at risk as she was a mother.
Instead, Madonna put out a replacement clip that was hastily cut together. It showed her singing in front of a green screen of flags of different countries.
Watch the replacement music video below:Now, 20 years ago later, the Grammy-winning musician finally officially released the original music video of 'American Life' to mark the album's 20th anniversary.
However, the original version still excludes a censored scene of a George W. Bush lookalike - who is the former US president known for sending the US to war with Iraq - flipping the top of the grenade, lighting a cigar with it, and smiling.
The video ends with a close-up shot of a grenade flying through the air.
The singer is taking a trip down a memory line as she will venturing on her forthcoming world tour, Celebration. The greatest hits tour will kick off in Canada on July 15 and will be 83 dates.
It will continue until January 2024.
