One of the UK's biggest reggae festivals has been cancelled after gay rights activists threatened to disrupt the event.
The activists led by the group Outrage!, were unhappy about the inclusion of dancehall acts Sizzla and Vybz Kartel in the lineup for Reggae In The Park which was due to take place on September 5.
The two dancehall artists are among a group of eight whose material is being investigated by the Crown Prosecution Service over claims that their lyrics incite violence against homosexuals.
In an interview with the BBC, Vybz Kartel said he has apologised for his lyrics, and is now preaching a message of tolerance.
"That's what we are doing, not just me Vybz Kartel alone, but all the artistes, we are taking that stance. We want to move on now," he said.
Reggae in the Park was originally scheduled for Victoria Park in east London but due to the large crowds expected at the event, it was moved to the Wembley Arena but Wembley officials were not happy with the event taking place there.
A statement from the organisers of Reggae In The Park said: "Due to the recent negative publicity surrounding reggae music in the UK press, no alternative suitable venue could be found that was willing to take on the perceived security risk represented by Reggae In The Park."
Under pressure
Peter Tatchell of Outrage! said the organisation was delighted that Sizzla and Vybes Kartel will not be performing, but they were sorry that the whole event had been cancelled.
This is another blow for dancehall artists who in recent weeks have been under pressure from gay rights campaigners in the UK and the US.
Last week, Beenie Man was excluded from an MTV-hosted concert in Miami while in London, the organisers of the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards scheduled for September 30 released a statement saying they did not condone homophobic lyrics.
This message was stressed this on the nomination forms for the awards, which are distributed to DJs, promoters and retailers.
The organisers said: "People obviously did keep this in mind when voting, because the controversial Beenie Man didn't get the support he might have anticipated and as a result has not been nominated." (BBC Caribbean report)
In an interview with the BBC, Vybz Kartel said he has apologised for his lyrics, and is now preaching a message of tolerance
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By Adobe OEM Software @ New York
emai1l@gmail.com
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Topic Gay stop artist. History repeating itself
Listen this topic aint new looka from shabba time. but let me say this i love reggae and love my dancehall and i aint taking the gay side but the artist trying to mek some money and when u start meking a name outside of JA and the rest of the caribbean you got to realise that the communities in England and the US are very tolerant and very pro gay so when the artist dem hit that "gay wall" they get stop and black listed cus no assoication aint want to be known as anti-gay... And i tell you it was a big change from the caribbean to come to the US and batty men all bout but you know what you at sometime going have to see and no see... What the artist could try do doa is state that they would not perform their antigay tracks... I never understood why the artist never attempted to do this b/c they cant expect members of a ocommunity that grow up knowing, reading , hearing, teaching that gay is wrong should have to change their view, but tolerance would tell you just leave the issue off the table..
By Cliff @ USA, NJ
cagpole@yahoo.com
Monday, December 29, 2008
but ol an de?
But ol an de? a we dis pan me dem a talorate batty man? unno a sof up pan we now? if yo talarate batty man you a one
By jamrock de blood clat king @ Atlanta usa
jamrockdeking@yahoo.com
Monday, May 15, 2006
good nuh man fih gay
good all gay batty fih dead . all wih know vybz kartel could be gay but bun bad mind duty batty man dem
By batty man killa @
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
BATTYMAN
BOOM BOODOO BOOM
BOODOO BOOM BOOM BOOM
BOOM BYE BYE INA BATTYBWOY FACE
RUDEBWOY NAH PROMOTE DEM DA BATTYBWOY FI DEAD,
WE HOLD DEM SHOT DEM AND CUT OFF DEM YAH HEAD
By BATTYBWOY BLASTER WITH AK47 @ FINLAND
BATTYBWOYHITMAN@YAHOO.COM
Friday, March 10, 2006
man raper free in england
let me say this, in england there was once a tv personality whose name was michael barrymoore, he and his mates gangbanged a married man, violated his anal hole and left him, fi dead in michael barrymores swimming pool, now thw police declared he was raped, but as usual mr michael barrymore is still roaming the streets of the united kingdom, england,
By thatchells father @ saddomngamarrow
ipoppedtatchellsmotherin1943shewasnasty@yahoo.com
Monday, February 27, 2006
Stop Trippin
These people have serious issues and need to get over themselves. If they can go around sayin they are gay and proud, there is no reason why the arist should change there lyrics to suit gay people. God didn't make Adam and Steve or Eve and Jean. I say more power to beenie and any other arist they are protesting against. As long as your records are selling to bad got ythe little gay people's feelings. I know for sure I will keep buyin any thing that they produce. To the gay people get ya life write.
By Sick of Dem Stories @ Nassau, Bahamas
A_1_Luv@yahoo.com
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Nasty Gays!!!!!
I am so mad!! abouth all this bull when bennie came to philly they gave him a hard time b/c of that gay shit i hate......... them f#CKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Mami chula. @ philadelphia pa
SCaraballo@momobile.org
Friday, October 15, 2004
FI-Fi bwoy
I'm tired of this damn batty bwoy business.Yes dem fi hear weh dem ah do.
GAY people need to back da f*** off.And yes da dancehall needs to continue what there doing ...........because no one stopped gay people from getting married.......and who ever made da law .....should go to hell and tell the devil Levelz sent dem!
By levelz @ Canada
baby_libra12@hotmail.com
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
About this thing wid Vybz
Manz has a damn right to write his lyrics how he wants..Batty man n Batty gyal they should do or anything but they should have dere own world..in my eyes they are influence other people into fallin in thier foolish footstep..n bout its legal to get married to da same sex as you BULLSHIT..me neva know say God made Adam n Adam n Eve n Eve...when mi did day inna sunday skool..mi teacha tell mi say di first people on earth was Adam and Eve..Back Home in da carribean..deres not such thing as Batty this n Batty That...but anyway..Make your write choice (which is dont turn out a chi chi)
By Erin @ Canada
babyphat248@hotmail.com
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Leviticuse 20:13 More fire
I Really don't think it is a gay thing. I think it is a way to depress the regga music vibes. they tried the first time with bob Marley, and failed. Now they have something to hold agains reggae there using it to there best ability. Reggae artise have the right's to free opinion also. It just the truth that they can't stand. It's like brother Bob said " who the cap fit's let them wear it." If this was about Homophobic lyrics, then they are again's the Ible as wel then. what next all the fassy's are going to fight against people reading the Ible. Let's be real hear. fact's is fact's. If your life styles not right fire bun. I will not change my lyric's fee help please sadum and gomaro.
By Singer-b Aka Benoit @ Pembroke Pines Florida
benoit1xavier@yahoo.com
Monday, September 27, 2004
gays n reggae
y'all don't see the connection between the oppression of Blacks folk n that of gays? Everybody nuh have right fi live?
Get out the box and stop hating, we're only hurting ourselves.
free the land free the people
lets get free!
By grace @ nyc,ny
melstarr99@hotmail.com
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Fire bun di whole a dem
I am from Zimbabwe (Africa). I think it is unfair for those who play number two to be allowed to get away with disrupting the music. We in Zim do not recognize gays at all and we will sing about and listen to music that discourages such inhuman behaviour. I encourage all artists to continue the music. Anti - gay lyrics got us interested in the first place.
By Red Alert @ Zimbabwe
tensho@operamail.com
Friday, September 24, 2004
bon chi chi
bombaclath Gays Bond dem up
whas Adam and Eve NOt Adam And Steve
read it
By Baddest @ Holland
amsterdam@hotmail.com
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
f*ck di batty man !!!!!!!
i am a jamaican and i get very upset when other jamaicanz let slackness rule dem. i am also very upset at what iz goin on. who care if fags trow a little p*ssy azz fit. if it was up 2 me i would slice all of dem dutty throat. and any1 who dont like dat can lick my p#ssy.
By rebecca @ milwaukee, wi
elilashops@sbcglobal.net
Monday, September 13, 2004
Bad Mon Jamaican Mon
If yuh nuh Jamaican mon wave yuh right hand and (NO!!!)
If yuh nuh Rasta Mon wave yuh right hand and (NO!!!)
Some bwoy will go a jail fi kill man tun bad mon Jamaican mon!!!
Tell mi, sumfest it should a be a showdown
Yuh seem to run off a stage like a Nigger
(Kill Dem DJ!!!)"
How do *you* like it??
By Kill Da Beenie Men @ Freedom
killallthejamaicans@turnaboutisfairplay.org
Thursday, September 9, 2004
Sizzla Apologize?
I'm not saying it's ok to beat up gays, but damn. What about the people who just wanted to hear their favorite artists perform and for free? Why mess up their (the artists) money? How about it being long known that the majority of Reggae artists do not support homosexuality in any form? Why complain now? Are there statistics showing the number of homosexuals being abused or killed after any of these concerts? I doubt it.
By Ralda @ USA, Maryland
Thursday, September 9, 2004
batty man fi dead
i think we should organize a anti-gay organization like what they do 2 us. we have the right to say what we think of them.
By batty man fi dead @
Tuesday, September 7, 2004
bun a fire
i was born in jamaica and never in my life would i think reggae artist would apologize for batty men-- this is wrong they are apologizing for money which is a shame
By djavalon @ usa,ny
skimigee@yahoo.com
Tuesday, September 7, 2004
hey
that was good y people should be gay god make man and woman to live together not man and man are woman and woman a pay badness a gone with these people he should of sing what he want to sing its a free world f them people do what u a do
By mose @ fl
dollor_bill_p@hotmail.com
Sunday, September 5, 2004
mmmmmmmmmm..........
u know it's asahme how the is turning, it's like we are living in an unbalanced society!
the only thing i can say about the whole gay society thing, is, just let them people live thier life and hope that someday they'll com eto a realization that what they are doing is not a form of normalcy.
dis be Mz.D a.k.a Dahema a.k.a PortmoreShawty inna di latazzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!
By PortmoreShawty @ US. Jersey
SdeonW@hotmail.com
Friday, September 3, 2004
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