Jessie Murph, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Alabama, has rapidly risen to prominence in the music industry with her genre-blending sound and provocative artistry. Her latest music video for the single “1965” from her sophomore album Sex Hysteria (released July 2025) has sparked significant online controversy, drawing both praise and criticism for its explicit content and perceived messaging. To understand the uproar surrounding the “1965” video, it’s essential to explore Murph’s background, her musical evolution, and the specific elements of the video that ignited public discourse.
From TikTok Covers to Chart-Topping Hits
Jessie Murph, born on September 22, 2004, first gained attention through her early posts on TikTok and YouTube, where she shared vlogs and covers of popular songs. Her raw talent and distinctive voice quickly caught the eye of music industry insiders, leading to a record deal with Columbia Records in 2021.
Murph’s music defies easy categorization, blending elements of country, pop, trap, and hip-hop. Critics have noted her ability to weave raw emotion with bold, unapologetic lyricism, often drawing comparisons to artists like Amy Winehouse and Lana Del Rey for her soulful delivery and introspective storytelling.
Her breakout came with the 2021 single “Always Been You,” followed by a string of RIAA-certified hits, including “Pray” (2022), “Heartbroken” with Diplo and Polo G (2023), “Wild Ones” with Jelly Roll (2023), and the viral “Blue Strips” (2025), which peaked at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
These successes established Murph as a versatile artist unafraid to experiment across genres. Her debut album, That Ain’t No Man That’s the Devil (2024), earned gold certifications in the U.S. and Canada, showcasing her ability to channel personal struggles into relatable music.
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Tracks like “The Man That Came Back” revealed a vulnerable side, addressing themes of familial pain and resilience, while her collaboration with artists like Lil Baby, Gucci Mane, and Sexyy Red on Sex Hysteria highlighted her growing influence.
Murph’s rise has not been without challenges. She has spoken candidly about her difficult upbringing in Alabama and the pressures of being a young woman in the music industry. At 17, she battled severe depression, which influenced her early work’s raw emotional depth. Her willingness to address personal and societal issues through her music has resonated with fans but also made her a polarizing figure, as seen with the release of “1965.”
The ‘1965’ Video: A Provocative Visual Statement
The music video for “1965,” released on July 18, 2025, as part of the Sex Hysteria album rollout, has been described as one of the most controversial music videos of the year. Directed with a retro aesthetic, the video opens with a mock commercial snippet claiming, “Studies are now saying that cigarettes are recommended and women belong in the kitchen,” setting a satirical tone.
The visuals feature Murph in a 1960s-inspired look—big hair, white dress, and grainy camera footage—evoking a nostalgic Americana vibe reminiscent of Priscilla Presley, an aesthetic Murph has leaned into throughout her Sex Hysteria era. However, the video takes a sharp turn at the 1:31 mark with a graphic sex scene that has shocked viewers and prompted widespread backlash.
The inclusion of a young girl handing Murph an iPad just before this explicit scene has been particularly contentious, with fans and critics calling the juxtaposition unsettling and inappropriate. The video also depicts Murph tied up in a sexually suggestive manner and includes a subplot involving infidelity, with her character appearing detached as her partner leaves with another woman.
1965 music video is out now. this one’s…not for the kids! https://t.co/nBMwuWo8Et pic.twitter.com/mgkzbr3tSd
— Jessie Murph (@jessiemurphhh) July 18, 2025
These elements, combined with lyrics like “I might get a little slap slap / But you wouldn’t hit me on Snapchat,” have led to accusations that the video normalizes domestic violence and glorifies a problematic era. Murph has defended the video and song, insisting that “1965” is satirical, meant to critique modern relationship dynamics by contrasting them with a romanticized yet flawed view of the 1960s.
In a TikTok response, she stated, “The entire song is satire. Are y’all stupid?” and later commented, “for legal reasons this is satire i promise.” The lyrics, such as “I think I’d give up a few rights / If you would just love me like it’s 1965,” juxtapose a longing for simpler romantic gestures (like handwritten letters) with references to the era’s sexism and inequality, including lines about acceptable age gaps and domestic abuse.
Murph’s intention, as she explained in a Teen Vogue interview, was to highlight the absurdity of romanticizing a time when women lacked basic rights, like needing a man’s signature for a mortgage or credit card. Despite her clarification, the satire has not landed well with many fans. Social media platforms, including TikTok and Reddit, have been flooded with criticism.
Comments on YouTube and X express discomfort with the explicit content and the perceived lack of clarity in the satirical message. One Reddit user remarked, “If you have to say it’s satire after people are upset, maybe it wasn’t clear,” while another called the video “diabolical” for its inclusion of a child before an explicit scene. The video remains on YouTube with an age restriction, but its graphic nature has led to questions about why it hasn’t been removed entirely.
Fan Reactions and the Satire Debate
The controversy surrounding “1965” has sparked a broader conversation about media literacy and artistic intent. Some fans and commentators argue that Murph effectively critiques the “tradwife” movement—a social media trend romanticizing traditional gender roles—by exaggerating the era’s flaws.
The song’s outro, where Murph admits uncertainty about the 1960s timeline (“I guess movies didn’t exist / Maybe they did, I’m not sure about that timeline”), underscores the satirical lens, poking fun at the ignorance underlying nostalgic fantasies. Supporters on X, like user @Saturnborn_hvn, have defended Murph, arguing that the satire is evident and that misinterpretation reflects a lack of critical thinking.
However, others contend that the satire is poorly executed, failing to convey its message with the necessary tact. Critics on Reddit’s r/popheads have suggested that lines like “don’t want you to love me like it’s 1965” would have clarified the critique, as the current lyrics appear to romanticize the era before undercutting it with profanity-laden frustration.
The song’s production, described by some as an Amy Winehouse-inspired R&B track with poorly timed 6/8 rhythm and juvenile lyrics, has also drawn criticism for undermining the intended message. One Reddit user called it “artless, feckless slop,” accusing it of promoting a “tradwife agenda” rather than critiquing it.
The backlash has been amplified by Murph’s confrontational response to criticism. Her blunt dismissal of detractors has fueled accusations of backpedaling, with some fans questioning whether she labeled the song as satire only after the controversy erupted.
The inclusion of explicit content, particularly in a video accessible on a platform like YouTube, has also raised concerns about its impact on younger audiences, despite Murph’s warning that the video is “not for the kids.” This has led to threats from some viewers to report the video, though YouTube’s age-restriction policy has so far allowed it to remain online.
Murph’s defenders argue that her provocative approach is intentional, aligning with her “fck it and we’ll see what happens” energy, as she described in a Rolling Stone interview. At 20, she acknowledges she’s still finding her voice and expects to “fck up” multiple times in her career.
Her willingness to push boundaries has earned her a dedicated fanbase, evident in her successful Worldwide Hysteria Tour announced in May 2025, but it has also made her a lightning rod for criticism. The Sex Hysteria album, with its genre-hopping tracks and collaborations with artists like Lil Baby and Gucci Mane, showcases her versatility, but “1965” has overshadowed these achievements with its polarizing reception.
Jessie Murph’s journey from a TikTok sensation to a chart-topping artist reflects her bold, unapologetic approach to music. Her “1965” music video, with its explicit content and satirical take on nostalgia, has sparked a firestorm of debate, highlighting her ability to provoke strong reactions.
While some see the video as a clever critique of romanticized gender roles, others view it as a misstep that glorifies a troubling era and crosses ethical lines with its imagery. The controversy underscores the challenges of navigating artistic intent in an era of heightened media scrutiny and polarized online discourse. As Murph continues to evolve, her willingness to take risks ensures she’ll remain a polarizing yet captivating figure in music, with “1965” serving as a bold, if contentious, chapter in her career.