Reggae musician Beenie Man apologised today for homophobic lyrics he says have been "misunderstood".
The controversial Jamaican superstar was booked to play at next year'sBig Day Out music festival before outrage from gay rights groups forced organisers to drop him from the line up.
In an email sent outtoday, Beenie Man, aka Moses Davis, said the offending lyrics wherehe called for the murder of homosexuals were written "at a point inmy life when I younger and was seeing a lot of exploitation of poor and defenceless young boys in the garrison - where I too was born - by richmen. When I wrote the lyrics boys were raped and murdered often - evenrecently a nine-year-old went to buy cigarettes for a man, came back and was raped and murdered. The act of sodomy was my concern when Iwrote the song.
"I realise that those men were not gays, butwere predators or paedophiles, which is not a common word in my dialect hence the perception when generalising. I am older and realised the difference after," he wrote.
Beenie Man says he has repeatedly apologised for the lyrics overseas, and was "heartbroken" upon hearing his appearance in New Zealand had generated such opposition.
"In the past I offended others with offensive lyrics, I apologised then and now, I never took back my word. Our world is an interesting placefilled with variety and we all have to respect others no matter whatrace, choices, culture or lifestyle. I am not a supporter of hatred and never was."
He concludes the email with a message for NewZealand and Australia: "Australia and New Zealand, please know that Iam sincere and right now I am proposing peace, one world.... One Loveregardless of race, religion, sexual
-- Edited by Mafo on Wednesday 18th of November 2009 02:35:23 AM
Fi real him ah wobble....Sizzla tell dem Rastaman dont apologize to no *****mun....and Watch what him do Gaza emperor himself apologize to ***** fi money FYAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!
wtf-"at a point inmy life when I younger and was seeing a lot of exploitation of poor and defenceless young boys in the garrison - where I too was born - by richmen
WTf-
beenie man u mak a fu ck know the *****-man will want everbody 2 do the same thing
buju _ i will not comment on him
__________________
If u dont like my opinion/topic/comment I still dont Gave a F*** .
beenie man support gay den?is dat i want to know rite now...i doe want to judge him u know rasta...but de man wobble brethren
Fi real mi don.... Di bredda awobble ... mi can't believe to r@$$ !!! Uno si wah some bwoy will do fi Money!!! FYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH fi dem dutyy bl%%dcl@t
There are reports circling the internet stating that Beenie Man wrote an elaborate apology directed to the gays in reference to his'hate music' and him being cut from the Big Day Out show in Auckland, New Zealand.
Although when reading these reports I felt that writing a statement was a good idea in order to save him from future let downs due to gay rights protesters. Not to mention, it wasn't really an apology, but more along the lines of clearing up a misunderstanding.. but either way according to Beenie Man's management team - these claims are false!
Beenie Man's management team has refuted internet reports stating that Beenie Man apologized for his lyrics and that he was 'heartbroken' over the controversy that it caused, which subsequently had him removed from performing at the Big Day Out show in New Zealand.
Blue, which is Beenie Man's manager stated,
"The deejay had granted no interviews about the controversy nor had they disseminated any emails. Reporters from New Zealand and Australia have been calling but we have not granted any interviews so I don't know where that statement is coming from... Beenie Man doesn't even talk or write like that so I know that its a fabrication."
Just because you apologize to a gay person, that makes you gay just the same? Wow.. some people are just dumb! And what does this post have to do with Kartel? Ah boi...
BEENIE lie him dweeet....member him perform life infront Ru Paul in har/him lingerie. It deh pon d internet too and him deny it long when bounty say him dweeet Shame him shame cuh d *****mun dem expose him letter affa him try play like him against homosexual.
lol...tie tus all over da place ah look pon mafo...mafo watch it u know...soon him gwan tell u he love u like him wah purpose...all u have to do is bury him with reef and rose
i dont believe in apologizes.... I cannot understand these gays association anymore...stop plz.... if they could,they would ban all reggae artists.... they do this fi di fame and fi noting else..