Two versions of the video were released; an unrated version which features the models topless and an edited version which features the models covered.
This video led to Emily Ratajkowski's first major film role after Ben Affleck saw her in it and convinced director David Fincher to cast her in their movie Gone Girl (2014).
In August 2014, Mr. Skin placed the nudity from the topless version of the video at #12 on their list of "The Top 150 Greatest Celebrity Nude Scenes of All Time".
On March 30, 2013, the topless version of the video was removed from YouTube for violating the sites term's of service regarding nudity, though it was later restored, but flagged as inappropriate.
This is the second time that director Diane Martel and Pharrell Williams join together for a music video project involving two differently rated versions. The 2001 video for the N.E.R.D. single "Lapdance" also featured models in two variant editions, one of which, like "Blurred Lines", is a topless version.