Outside of the obvious, backlash for the clip arose due to Anthony’s checkered past, which includes several sexual assault allegations. The first one emerged in 2004 when Anthony and Hustle & Flow assistant director Wayne Witherspoon were accused of raping a 25-year-old extra on the set of the film. A woman claimed to have heard screaming, followed by a naked woman running from a trailer. She was later treated at St. Francis Hospital. The Daily Beast reported that Anthony was charged with aggravated rape, but released on a $20K bond. He denies the allegations.
A spokesperson for Anthony said in a statement: “Anthony is a happily married family man who has never been accused of – no less involved in – anything remotely like this, and we are confident that when all the facts come out, he will be completely exonerated.” A Memphis judge threw out the case, deeming it “the most suspicious case I’ve ever heard.”
Anthony has never been convicted of any of the crimes brought up against him.