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Beenie Man dropped from BDO line up

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Beenie Man poses after receiving a Grammy for Best Reggae Album at the 2001 Awards (Reuters)

Beenie Man poses after receiving a Grammy for Best Reggae Album at the 2001 Awards (Reuters)

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 1:59p.m.

By Chris Whitworth / NZPA

Controversial reggae artist Beenie Man has been dropped from the Big Day Out line up.

The artist has been previously banned from playing in other countries due to his strong anti-gay lyrics in which he incites violence towards the gay and lesbian community.

Organisers of the BDO say while Beenie Man signed the Reggae Compassionate Act in 2007, which pledged adherence to peaceful and humanistic values, the hurt felt from the Gay and Lesbian community convinced them to drop the artist.

“To proceed with his Big Day Out appearances was, and would continue to be, divisive amongst our audience members and would mar the enjoyment of the event for many,” BDO organisers said in a statement.

A Facebook group was set up protesting Beenie Man's BDO appearance.

Gaynz.com content editor Jay Bennie had called on Beenie Man to be axed from the line-up to send a message that homophobia was not acceptable in New Zealand.

"He has come to represent extreme homophobia and a call for violence and murder against gays and lesbians, and so even his presence on the stage brings up that whole image of hatred and violence."

3 News / NZPA

 

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Comments [4]

Craig Young
17 Nov 2009 1:30p.m.

For the record, as someone who opposed Beenie Man's visit, I did exactly the same during the eighties when it came to performers, products and music associated with South Africa's apartheid regime. I'd do exactly the same if white supremacist 'racist rock' performers ever misrepresented themselves to gain access to legit events like Big Day Out.

Jamaican dancehall is corrupt. It's mostly funded by Jamaican politicians and they're rolling in it, unlike the majority of impoverished Jamaicans, while the more pacifistic One Love message of classical Rasta performers like the late great Bob Marley go unheard.

John Cox
15 Nov 2009 8:45p.m.

A singer has been excluded because some of his lyrics are anti-homosexual. When will the rest of the musicos be banned - I expect all will have lyrics that feature drugs, murder, rape, cop-killing, theft, assault, or some other illegal or immoral act.

Chez
15 Nov 2009 8:08p.m.

Me too Ben & heaps of my friends.. It really is sad how those against him twisted his words and intentions for their own cause. Rediculous that Big Day Out succumbed. He has a huge fan base all over the world and it would have been amazing to see him. Such a shame!

Ben
15 Nov 2009 7:26p.m.

'Gay', he was the only reason I was going.

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