A music video for Kanye West’s latest single, All of the Lights, has been reinstated on YouTube despite claims it can trigger epileptic seizures. The video was taken down yesterday after UK charity Epilepsy Action warned that extensive use of flashing imagery in the video could cause seizures in some people. The video now carries a warning at the beginning that highlights the risks to people with photosensitive epilepsy.
Aimee Gee, PR and campaigns manager at Epilepsy Action, said: “We are pleased to see that YouTube and Kanye West’s representatives have listened to our concerns and are warning people that the video is a risk to some people. We hope this means they will consider amending their policies so that other videos containing flashing imagery can also be dealt with.”
The charity and others are concerned, however, that the warning does not go far enough and that the video still presents a danger. Many people with photosensitive epilepsy, especially young people, do not know they have it until something triggers their first seizure. In 1997, an episode of Pokemon shown on Japanese television caused almost 600 people to have seizures. Of these, 76 per cent had no previous history of epilepsy.
Epilepsy Action has learned this morning that a version of the video that doesn’t present a risk to people with photosensitive epilepsy may have been produced for UK television. The charity will this afternoon be asking YouTube whether it is possible to upload this, very similar, version instead of the original.
Epilepsy affects around 456,000 people in the UK. As many as five per cent of people with epilepsy could have photosensitive epilepsy, which means their seizures are triggered by flashing or flickering light. Seizures can cause injury and can, in the worst cases, be fatal.
If people have concerns or have been affected by this video, they can contact the Epilepsy Helpline on freephone 0808 800 5050 or email helpline@epilepsy.org.uk . People outside the UK can call on +44 113 210 8800 or find a list of local epilepsy organisations at www.epilepsy.org.uk/about/international-epilepsy-organisations