Two More Appearances By Anti-Gay Singer Axed (365gay.com)

Two More Appearances By Anti-Gay Singer Axed
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

See Also BEENIE MAN BOUNCED FROM CHICAGO-BOUND TOUR and More on Beenie Man

Posted: August 11, 2004 11:56 am ET

Clubs in Pittsburgh and Indianapolis are the latest to cancel appearances by Jamaican singer Beenie Man following following complaints his music incites violence against gays.

An October 14 concert featuring Beenie Man at the Boardwalk in Pittsburgh was cancelled by cigarette maker R. J. Reynolds. The concert was to have part of the Salem Stir Your Senses tour.

"Salem brand made a business decision to not feature him as a performer. It came to our attention that some of his songs contained lyrics that are inappropriate and unacceptable," said Reynolds' spokesperson David Howard in a media release.

A concert slated for October 28 at the Vogue in Indianapolis has also been axed, according to gay activists in that city.

"The Vogue has been a melting pot for people of all backgrounds," the venue said in a statement distributed to the gay community. "We were shocked to hear these statements and began to immediately look into ways for us to cancel this show."

The controversial singer dropped two anti-gay songs from his act when he appeared in Philadelphia last week avoiding a threatened demonstration by members of Pennsylvania Lesbian and Gay Task Force. (story) A second concert in the city, scheduled for this fall was also cancelled.

Beenie Man, whose real name is Anthony Davis, launched a 33 cities earlier this month that includes New York City, Chicago, Miami, Cincinnati, and Atlanta.

His hit tune, Bad Man Chi Chi Man (Bad Man, Queer Man), instructs listeners to kill gays: "If yuh nuh chi chi (queer) man wave yuh right hand and (NO!!!)/If yuh nuh lesbian wave yuh right hand and (NO!!!)Some bwoy will go a jail fi kill man tun bad man chi chi man!!!./Tell mi, sumfest it should a be a showdown/Yuh seem to run off a stage like a clown (Kill Dem DJ!!!)".

In an effort to head off the controversy as the tour began, Beenie Man's record label, Virgin, issued what it called an "apology" on behalf of the singer.

"It has come to my attention that certain lyrics and recordings I have made in the past may have caused distress and outrage among people whose identities and lifestyles are different from my own.

"While my lyrics are very personal, I do not write them with the intent of purposefully hurting or maligning others, and I offer my sincerest apologies to those who might have been offended, threatened or hurt by my songs." (story)

But, the following day, Beenie Man's personal manager denied that the apology came from his client. (story)

Clyde McKenzie, head of public relations for Beenie Man's management company Shocking Vibes, told Radio Jamaica that the statement was "not an apology", that it was initiated by Virgin Records not by Beenie Man, and that Beenie Man reserved his right to continue criticizing "the homosexual lifestyle", of which he did not approve.

In June, Jamaica's most notable gay civil rights leader was brutally murdered in his home. (story)

A Beenie Man concert scheduled for London several weeks later was cancelled following a protest by British gay rights group Outrage. (story) When the singer arrived at the airport he was questioned by British police but allowed to enter the country.

©365Gay.com® 2004

Anti-Gay Singer Denies Apology
by Peter Moore
365Gay.com

Newscenter
London Bureau

Posted: August 4, 2004 11:01 am ET

(London) Within 24 hours of Virgin Records issuing what it called "an apology" from Jamaican singer Beenie Man over his music which incites people to murder gays a spokesperson for the singer denies making any apology.

The "apology" was issued Tuesday by Virgin. Apology as reported on 365gay.com

Clyde McKenzie, head of public relations for Beenie Man's management company Shocking Vibes, told Radio Jamaica that the statement was "not an apology", that it was initiated by Virgin Records not by Beenie Man, and that Beenie Man reserved his right to continue criticizing "the homosexual lifestyle", of which he did not approve.

McKenzie made his "clarification" on Radio Jamaica. The program also featured Brett Lock of Outrage the British LGBT rights group that has been calling for a boycott of Beenie Man's US tour.

"Despite being asked several times, Clyde McKenzie strenuously denied that the statement was an apology to gay people or for homophobic lyrics," Lock said. "He insisted it was just a general condemnation of violence."

Lock, in a statement Wednesday denounced Virgin's motives in releasing the "apology".

"The so-called apology seems to be nothing more than a PR stunt dreamt up by Virgin Records to stave off protests against Beenie Man in the lucrative European and North American markets," Lock said. "But in Jamaica - where an apology would do the most good - Beenie Man's PR machine is pulling out all the stops to disassociate him from the Virgin Records statement."

Beenie Man, whose real name is Anthony Davis, will appear in 33 cities from August 1 to November 8, including New York City, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Atlanta. (story)

©365Gay.com® 2004

See also: Kill Gays Singer To Begin US Tour

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