BDO organisers investigate Beenie Man

WILL HE PLAY? Beenie Man's appearance at next year's Big Day Out has sparked an investigation.

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The announcement that a rapper known for his anti-gay lyrics will perform at next year's Big Day Out has sparked a backlash among gay rights groups.

Big Day Out organisers are investigating whether Jamaican rapper Beenie Man, whose lyrics included "I'm dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays", would compromise the festival's values of "tolerance and understanding".

Beenie Man is the latest star act lined up for the January 15 festival in Auckland.

A Facebook group, Standing up against Beenie Man at Big Day Out 2010, was set up on Tuesday to protest his participation and already boasts more than 900 members.

One of the group's founders, Jess Cann, said she felt insulted that organisers would invite a homophobic musician to play.

The group also planned to stage a protest at Big Day Out, she said.

Gaynz.com content editor Jay Bennie said Beenie Man should be removed from the festival's line-up, to send a message that homophobia is not acceptable in New Zealand.

"I think it would be a disgrace if he played at the Big Day Out, regardless of whether he performed songs with homophobic lyrics.

"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."

Big Day Out promoter Campbell Smith said the festival's producers were aware of Beenie Man's past.

But he understood Beenie Man had not performed anti-gay songs since signing the Reggae Compassionate Act in 2007 under which he was required to stop performing lyrics promoting violence against gay people.

But British queer rights group OutRage! said Beenie Man had denied signing the petition and denounced it.

Mr Smith said the Big Day Out had contacted Beenie Man today to confirm he stood by the Reggae Compassionate Act.

"The Big Day Out's core values include those of tolerance and understanding," Mr Smith said.

"We are responding to concerns that Beenie Man's presence at the event may compromise those values and are directly investigating fears that he will perform material conflicting with our philosophy and his own undertakings pursuant to the RCA."

It may take the Big Day Out up to a week to resolve the issue, he said.

The Facebook group's organisers had encouraged members to write to the Big Day Out's organisers, along with Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Finlayson, the first openly gay National Party MP.

Peter Tetchell, a campaigner for OutRage!, was one of the two people who had written to Mr Finlayson today, and said he hoped the Big Day Out would cancel Beenie Man's performance.

* Should Beenie Man be allowed to perform at the Big Day Out? Post your comments below.

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mo   #55   03:45 pm Jan 01 2010

Ha Bob, indeed ha-ha Because just a few decent people voiced their freedom of speech, BM is off the schedule. It is in the finest tradition of strengthening free speech that people who do not wish violence upon anyone have effectiveloy used their rights. That is free speech! Too bad you can not discern the difference. Let me explain:

Look, bub bob, free speech does not mean surrender to the offensive. Free speech most famously does not mean y0u can yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater. Freedom of speech means most definitelty that you do not have the right to harm anyone or urge or facilitate another to harm someone.

BGO   #54   04:41 pm Nov 19 2009

"If this was a white-power group..."

VC: Typical whiny cliches aside, I think the main reason BDO organisers don't book white power groups is because they want good music? Just a thought...

James   #53   05:10 pm Nov 14 2009

Just checked the BDO wensite and noticed that Beenie Man is no longer part of the second announcement,

Make of that what you will.

Bob   #52   02:31 pm Nov 13 2009

Ha! Liberals: always taking about freedom of speech, but as soon as they hear something they don't agree with, it's Ban It!

Aiden   #51   02:22 pm Nov 13 2009

Yes, he should play. Its only music guys

VC   #50   02:22 pm Nov 13 2009

This is a perfect illustration of how sleazy, cynical and greedy BDO promoters are. If this was a white-power group, it wouldn't have been booked in the first place.

Steve   #49   01:53 pm Nov 13 2009

I've just read some of his lyrics... and there is now way this guy should be able to perform at BDO, let alone in NZ. Absolutely appauling! Are you saying that it would be appropriate for anyone to get up there with a microphone and spout off lyrics about killing gay men and women. It's not just the intolerance, it's the fact that he actually says - Kill homosexuals.

kimy   #48   12:54 pm Nov 13 2009

let him play. if you dont like what his saying dont listen. if you can ingnore the lyrics, that promote violence and sex and that glorifies infadelity by alot of other artists one more for you to ignore shouldnt be to much of a feet. thier will be lost of other act for you to see at BDO.

Stephanie   #47   12:30 pm Nov 13 2009

KAI! hit the nail on the head...perfecto..couldnt agree more

Neo14   #46   12:20 pm Nov 13 2009

Let him play, it'll be funny

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