WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Mitchells vs. The Machines, streaming on Netflix, as well as discussions of sexual assault allegations.
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is a comedy about how people relate to technology and the internet, so it's fitting that the movie's big father-daughter bonding song is "Live Your Life," a 2008 T.I. song featuring Rihanna noted for sampling O-Zone's "Dragostea Din Tei" (AKA the "Numa Numa" song). Tech-incompetent father Rick most likely knew the song from the radio, while his plugged-in daughter Katie would grow up to be fully aware of the "Numa Numa" meme. It makes perfect sense as a point of connection between their two wildly different perspectives.
Considering how perfectly "Live Your Life" is used in The Mitchells vs. The Machines, it's unfortunate that between the wrapping of the film's production in September 2020 and its release in April 2021, T.I. and his wife Tiny were accused of sexual assault and kidnapping by at least 31 people.
The investigation into T.I. and Tiny's alleged crimes is still ongoing, and both deny the charges against them, but the allegations are seriously concerning, to say the least. T.I. and Tiny's reality show Friends & Family Hustle has already been suspended, but "Live Your Life" was too important to the story and structure of the already-completed The Mitchells vs. The Machines for the song to be replaced.
This wouldn't be the first Phil Lord and Christopher Miller production to structure its emotional core around a song from an artist who'd go on to deal with serious allegations. The LEGO Batman Movie based itself around "Man in the Mirror" two years before Leaving Neverland reignited the controversy around Michael Jackson. That feels awkward in retrospect. The Mitchells vs. The Machines' delay between completion and release now makes a similar "awkward in retrospect" situation now awkward in the present -- and unlike Michael Jackson, T.I. is still alive.
The fact the investigation is still ongoing also distinguishes this situation from the controversy over Todd Philips' use of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Part 2" in Joker. There were questions of taste raised over the movie's decision to use music from a convicted child molester in the first place, but the fact Glitter was fully convicted meant the movie could safely use the song without giving him royalties.
Making this situation extra complicated to analyze is that "Live Your Life" is a song with many artists, and while T.I. has the main credit, his rapping is the least memorable part of the song. Most people just remember it as "that novelty pop song where Rihanna sings over 'Numa Numa.'" That's its main legacy, and it's that legacy which is why it was included in The Mitchells vs. The Machines in the first place.
In the grand scheme of "art vs. artist" conflicts, this is overall pretty minor. One song by a controversial figure in a movie made by hundreds of people who had no knowledge of the controversy while making the movie isn't anywhere near enough to tarnish the enjoyment of a film as great as The Mitchells vs. The Machines. Notably, the song was not included in Michael Rianda's Spotify soundtrack playlist for the film. That said, it's still an issue worth noting.
Directed by Michael Rianda and starring the voice talents of Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Eric André and Olivia Colman, The Mitchells vs. The Machines will be available to stream on Netflix on April 30.
If you are a U.S.-based victim of sexual assault or misconduct in need of help, contact RAINN at 800-656-4673 to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. If you are based outside the U.S., click here for a list of international sexual assault resources.
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