Rapper & Director Behind Music Video Starring NYPD Detective Pole Dancing Defend Her Amid Criticism

A controversial rap video that features an NYPD detective has been addressed by the song’s artist and director.

On Friday (March 7), TMZ reported that East Coast rapper S-Quire and director Picture Perfect defended NYPD Det. Melissa Mercado, who stars in the strip club-themed “Doin That” video. But the men claim to have not known about Det. Mercado’s day job, as she was hired through a casting agency.

“After everything went down and I’m watching all of this and now I’m seeing the narrative change like, I have a family, too. This lady has a family, too,” S-Quire told TMZ. “And I think that’s more important right now.”

S-Quire added that he “loves” that the “Doin That” video went viral, but doesn’t want to be known as the rapper who became popular for having a cop in his music video.

S-Quire called the fallout “extremely unfortunate” that altered his touring plans.

Picture jumped in, saying that Mercado became wildly popular from the video, although the video’s response got “a little out of hand.” He added that other artists have contacted the director for Mercado to next star in their videos. The director also called the detective “really dope to work with” and said that she “gave it her all.”

Picture now plans to scout video vixens differently for his future projects with S-Quire, so their occupations aren’t a distraction from the work.

In “Doin That,” which was filmed in 2022 at Club Vanity, Mercado dances in a rented strip club while wearing a bra and g-string, also sharing some close-up moments with S-Quire.

According to The New York Post, Mercado has been in the NYPD since 2018 and makes $144,000 yearly. With S-Quire and Picture Perfect being supportive of Mercado, at least one person in the NYPD has also expressed that the detective shouldn’t face disciplinary action.

“What she’s doing really has nothing to do with her as an employee, as an NYC detective,” a police union source told the Post. “She’s not wearing NYPD paraphernalia. Nothing in the video says she’s a detective. If she is performing for money, if she has a side gig, the job would want to know about that. The member would be obligated to file an off-duty employment application. I would say nothing she does in the video is the department’s business.”