The unexpected twist in a recent music video has sparked significant media attention. A New York City police detective, Melissa Mercado, was featured dancing provocatively in rapper S-Quire’s video for "Doin That." Following the video's viral success, it emerged that Mercado is not only a dancer but also a seven-year veteran of the NYPD, working in the special victims' unit. The director, Pitch Perfect, and the artist have since commented on the situation, emphasizing their unawareness of her professional background during filming. This incident has raised questions about the boundaries between personal and professional lives, especially for public servants.
Pitch Perfect, who directed the provocative video for S-Quire, revealed in an interview with TMZ that they were unaware of Mercado's occupation as an NYPD detective at the time of filming. Mercado, hired through a casting agency, appeared prominently in the video performing various dance routines. The director insisted that the production was handled professionally and no one involved knew about her primary career. “None of us were aware of what her main profession was,” Pitch Perfect stated, highlighting the surprise felt by the team when the news broke.
Mercado's appearance in the video caused a stir after media outlets identified her as the scantily clad dancer. The Long Island-based rapper, S-Quire, expressed mixed feelings about the unexpected media frenzy surrounding the video. While the video had already garnered substantial views before the revelation, the controversy significantly amplified its visibility. S-Quire admitted to being distressed by the shift in narrative focus from the music to Mercado's dual life. He emphasized concerns for both his own family and Mercado’s, stating, “You know I have a family too. This lady has a family too.”
The aftermath of the video's release has seen Mercado become a sought-after dancer for other rap videos. Pitch Perfect noted that numerous artists have reached out interested in working with her, suggesting a potential positive outcome from the publicity. However, S-Quire remained more somber, calling the entire situation “extremely unfortunate” and expressing hopes that he would not be remembered solely for this controversial moment. Both men expressed best wishes for Mercado but acknowledged that they have not communicated with her since the shoot.
In light of this experience, Pitch Perfect and S-Quire have decided to implement new protocols for future productions. They plan to inquire about any performers' additional careers to avoid similar surprises. The incident underscores the complexities of balancing personal pursuits with professional responsibilities, particularly for individuals in public service roles like law enforcement.