August 26, 2004 18:11

BEENIE MAN BANNED

The dancehall artist is not allowed to perform in Miami this weekend…

BEENIE MAN has been banned from a performing at a MTV concert in MIAMI after gay rights activists planned to protest over the singer’s homophobic lyrics.

The dancehall star was due to play on Saturday (August 28) prior to the MTV Awards, but organisers have cancelled the appearance.

A spokesperson for the music channel said: "We don't want anything to overshadow what should be a great weekend of music events."

According to BBC news, Beenie Man’s manager Clyde McKenzie said: "In many instances the lyrics in dancehall artists are metaphorical. He (Beenie Man) has made it clear that he doesn’t want to incite violence."

Beenie Man issued a statement on August 2 offering his "sincerest apologies" for the lyrical content in some of his songs.

He said: "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. As a human being, I renounce violence towards other human beings in every way, and pledge henceforth to uphold these values as I move forward in my career as an artist."

However, director of Miami gay rights group SAVE Dade Heddy Pena said: "We respectfully suggest that he use other metaphors."