Silent Hill creature designer and illustrator Masahiro Ito is clapping again at Madonna followers after a remark he made about one in every of her music movies rubbed a vocal group of listeners the mistaken means.
Masahiro Ito is the thoughts behind a few of horror’s most iconic monsters. The Bubble Head Nurses from Silent Hill 2, Pyramid Head, and plenty of different creatures from the primary three video games within the collection have been born at the very least partially from his inventive imaginative and prescient, birthing monsters which have remained staples within the style to at the present time.
In Could 2019, Ito opened up about one in every of his inspirations for the nurses’ actions within the Silent Hill franchise, citing the dancers in Madonna’s 1999 music video for “Nothing Really Matters.” Within the video, Madonna and her backup dancers used Butoh-style dance actions, a sort of Japanese choreography that emerged after World Conflict II characterised by sluggish, managed motions, white, full-body make-up, and contorting one’s face and physique into absurd and grotesque expressions.
Silent Hill’s nurses transfer in an analogous means, so it’s not exhausting to see the place he drew his affect from. Years later, nonetheless, this factoid is getting some flak from Madonna followers after he revealed that he isn’t really into her music.
In Could 2026, a fan credited Madonna for “actually being the inspiration for the environment of Silent Hill 2” — however Ito didn’t essentially agree.
“I stated I [was] impressed by Madonna’s Nothing Actually Issues video,” he clarified. “However I meant the Butoh-like dances by Asian dancers painted solely white within the video, not herself / her music. It was one in every of [the] inspirations for the Mendacity Determine, Bubblehead Nurses’ and so on. animations. That is all. Please do not leap to conclusions.”
I stated I impressed by Madonna’s Nothing Actually Issues video. However I meant the Butoh-like dances by Asian dancers painted solely white within the video, not herself/her music. It was 1 of inspirations for the Mendacity Determine, BHNurse’s and so on anims. That is all. Plz do not leap to conclusions https://t.co/VBgBGiqGSD pic.twitter.com/RRT00G0kQt
— 伊藤暢達/Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) May 21, 2026
Sadly for him, Ito unintentionally kicked a hornet’s nest. A vocal phase of Madonna’s fanbase got here out of the woodwork to criticize this explicit assertion, seemingly underneath the impression that he was hating on the enduring singer and making an attempt to distance his work from her.
“The unique put up stated the music video? So why are you being shady? Madonna’s idea of the video is the explanation WHY you have been impressed,” one argued on the time.
“So, you have been impressed by the video? i don’t perceive the distinction and massive deal and the hate that’s being despatched to the unique poster for being excited that you just stated a side of Madonna’s video impressed Silent Hill, which u simply confirmed it did…,” one other wrote.
Nonetheless others knowledgeable Ito that the unique poster was more than likely being hyperbolic and humorous, with their put up in all probability getting misinterpreted by him — however both means, Ito said he was nonetheless going through fierce backlash because of his clarification on the topic.
It’s been over two months since then, and the criticism hasn’t utterly died down. In August 2026, Ito as soon as once more posted screenshots from accounts harassing him about his Madonna tweet (although admittedly, a few of them appear to be easy trolls seeking to get an increase out of him, somewhat than being diehard Madonna followers).
The designer described one in every of them as a “typical, low-IQ stan who begins a combat after which performs the sufferer once I simply blocked them with out replying,” adopting the social media stance of fellow Twitter-savvy sport developer Hideki Kamiya, who’s considerably well-known for blocking and insulting impolite commenters.
“Commented on objective” – A typical low IQ stan who begins a combat after which performs the sufferer once I simply blocked them w/o replying. lmao pic.twitter.com/m17lzoaRD0
— 伊藤暢達/Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) August 11, 2026
Regardless of all this, the state of affairs has sparked a wave of assist for Ito and reignited a dialogue surrounding the inspiration of artwork from fellow artists, in addition to sparking a renewed curiosity in studying about Butoh dance.
For extra about Silent Hill, try our assessment of the Silent Hill 2 remake, in addition to our opinion on Silent Hill f and its decidedly totally different tackle the beloved horror franchise.
Picture Credit score: YouTube – Madonna
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s Information Editor. With ten years of expertise reporting on video games and leisure, she’s obtained a storied background within the combating sport neighborhood, influencer information, and viral on-line developments. Discover her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.