Artist News Releases

New Kasabian video criticised by mental health campaigners

By Andy Malt | Published on Monday 3 April 2017

Mental health charity Time To Change has criticised Kasabian and their video for new single ‘You’re In Love With A Psycho’ for pushing “unhelpful, damaging and disappointing” stereotypes.

Set in a psychiatric hospital, the video, which also features Noel Fielding and Stephen Graham, references ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’ and The Marx Brothers’ ‘Duck Soup’. Overall though, it mainly presents mental health in-patients as dehumanised people dressed in shapeless gowns. It also contains a fart gag.

Time To Change director Sue Baker said in a statement: “As so many musicians have recently talked openly about their experiences of mental health problems it is disappointing to see this video. The use of the word ‘Psycho’ in a song and accompanying music video featuring people pretending to be psychiatric inpatients is unhelpful, damaging and disappointing when society is moving on from this sad and tired stereotype. We are sure the insult and harm was unintentional, or misjudged irony, but we are raising it as we know it will only serve to fuel stigma”.

She continues: “If fans think it is OK to call people with mental health problems who have been psychiatric inpatients ‘psychos’, then we are turning back the tide of progress on public attitudes that are more respectful and less judgemental of people living with mental health problems. We are keen to work with the band and the music industry to help shift outdated stereotypes and stigma”.

The band have not yet responded to the criticism, although their Facebook page has also been swamped with fans unhappy at the content of the video.