Ashanti's "Violent" Promotional Campaign For Her New Video Causes Outrage

Los Angeles, CA (CNS) - R&B songstress Ashanti's new album has caused an outcry from lobby groups and for family values activists, claiming its promotional campaign sends a violent message.

On her website, readers are given an opportunity to "punk" their friends by sending them an email saying "Your life may be in danger." The email has links to a phony news site and a video that says police are investigating a series of violent attacks and they are searching for the next probable victim.

Although the video includes a disclaimer saying, "Ashanti and Universal Music Group do not encourage or condone violence of any kind. This is for parody purposes only," the groups set up a protest outside the record label's office on Tuesday.

The promotional campaign is for the 27-year-old artist's new video "The Way That I Love You," wherein the images of blood splattered wall and a blood-soaked knife give the impression that she had killed her unfaithful lover by stabbing him to death.