The video for Man Down has been slammed by US organisation Parents For Television Council for allegedly encouraging women to take the law into their own hands by resorting to violence.
The video begins with the 23-year-old singer taking deadly action against a man, who is later revealed to have allegedly tried to rape her.
But Rihanna has claimed the clip is actually about female empowerment.
The R&B star, who was attacked in 2009 by her then-boyfriend Chris Brown, tweeted yesterday: 'Young girls/women all over the world… we are a lot of things! We're strong, innocent, fun, flirtatious, vulnerable, and sometimes our innocence can cause us to be naive!
'We always think it could NEVER be us, but in reality, it can happen to ANY of us! So ladies be careful and #listentoyomama [sic]! I love you and I care!'