Rihanna director rejects M.I.A comparisons

The director of Rihanna's 'Rude Boy' video has denied claims that she copied ideas from M.I.A's 'Boyz' clip.

Melina Matsoukas insisted that the 'Rude Boy' music promo is instead inspired by Rasta culture.

"It definitely wasn't trying to rip anybody off at all - it was just our approach and the animation stuff, it had a similar vibe. And [M.I.A.'s] video's great too," she told MTV News.

Matsoukas, who also directed Rihanna's 'Hard' and Alicia Keys and Beyoncé's 'Put It In A Love Song', claimed that comparisons are often drawn in music videos.

"We've seen that before with Grace Jones and Andy Warhol, so I don't know if anybody can lay claim to anything," she said. "We're all inspired by similar elements and it came together in that way."

Matsoukas has also directed promo clips for Leona Lewis, Whitney Houston, Lily Allen and Kylie Minogue.

> Click here to watch the 'Rude Boy' video