Rap superstar Jay-Z has dismissed online critics who have likened his new music video to "devil worship" - calling the murmurs "silly" and "ignorant".
The hip-hop mogul came under fire after the promo for his new single, 'On to the Next One', debuted this month.
The video features ram skulls, black crows and dark imagery - and Jay-Z can't believe some of the outrageous slurs on his personal beliefs which have since surfaced online.
He tells US radio station Hot 97, "I don't know where it started. I don't know where it came from. I really think it's really silly. For the record, I of course believe in God, but I believe in one God. If people must know my religious beliefs, I believe in one God. I don't believe in religion. I don't believe in Christians or Muslims. I think all that separates people. I think it's one God. I think it's all the same God, and I don't believe in Hell.
"Am I a part of some sect or cult? That sounds stupid to me. It's ignorant to even say, and I guess that'll be the last time I address that. It's ignorant to me."
And Jay-Z's collaborator, Swizz Beatz, who features in the song, has backed the star - insisting critics are wrong to read too much into a music promo.
He adds, "The video displays another level of art and creativity from two great minds: the director and Jay - and myself, bringing the collaboration together. (There's) no satanic ways around me and that's for sure (sic). I'm with Jay - I never see none of that stuff around him unless he's hiding something, which I doubt. That's silly stuff."
WENN.com