Today, Doechii and Vevo premiered a new episode of Footnotes, offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes look of the music video for “Denial Is A River” from her Grammy Award-winning project, Alligator Bites Never Heal.
Co-directors Carlos Acosta and James Mackel share insights into the sitcom-inspired visual, which reflects Doechii’s personal and professional journey.
In the episode, the directors explain that when they first heard the song, they immediately envisioned a sitcom vibe, drawing inspiration from classic 90’s Black sitcoms like Family Mattersand The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They break down key moments in the video, including the kitchen scene where Doechii chops a cucumber while rapping about her boyfriend’s cheating. They also recall the energy on set during the three-day shoot and discuss cameos from comedian Zack Fox and musician SiR. Additionally, they reveal that the video was filmed on the same soundstage used in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Lastly, they share details about an alternate ending where Doechii collapses, prompting EMTs to rush on stage to revive her, but a power outage during filming complicated things and they decided to go with a cleaner ending.