David Bowie Video Reinstated On YouTube

The video for David Bowie’s latest single, “The Next Day,” has been reinstated on YouTube after it was originally banned for contravening the service’s terms of use. As NME reports, the site has issued the following statement regarding the clip:

“With the massive volume of videos on our site, sometimes we make the wrong call. When it’s brought to our attention that a video has been removed mistakenly, we act quickly to reinstate it.”

The news comes after prominent Church figures have hit out at Bowie for the video’s controversial religious content. Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has stated:

“If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery perhaps Christians should not worry too much at such an exploitation of religious imagery,” Carey writes. “I doubt that Bowie would have the courage to use Islamic imagery – I very much doubt it. Frankly, I don’t get offended by such juvenilia – Christians should have the courage to rise above offensive language, although I hope Bowie will recognise that he may be upsetting some people.”

Catholic League President Bill Donohue has also written:

“David Bowie is back, but hopefully not for long. The switch-hitting, bisexual, senior citizen from London has resurfaced, this time playing a Jesus-like character who hangs out in a nightclub dump frequented by priests, cardinals and half-naked women … In short, the video reflects the artist – it is a mess.”