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File - Buju Banton
Gay activists appeal against artiste
Sadeke [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Brooks[/COLOR][/COLOR], Staff Reporter
More Buju Banton shows have been cancelled due to pressure from gay and lesbian activists in the United States.
A short release from Live Nation Inc, the company that was putting on the shows, announced on Thursday that it has cancelled all previously scheduled concerts by Buju Banton. These include four shows that should have been held at House of Blues locations in Chicago, Las Vegas, Houston and Dallas in October. The release also said that ticket [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]refunds[/COLOR][/COLOR] are available at the point of purchase.
very tight-lipped
When pressed for the reason for the cancellation, [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Crystal[/COLOR][/COLOR] Lafata, executive assistant in communications at Live Nation Inc, was very tight-lipped.
"That's the only information that is being released about the situation. We are not saying anything else to the media," she told THE STAR.
According to an article in the Los Angeles Times: 'Buju Banton's October show draws ire of LA gay community', Buju Banton was said to be booked to play in Los Angeles. However, the LA gay and lesbian community has been working to get his show in the state cancelled.
"We're disappointed that even after we've so clearly expressed how we feel about this, it would all be ignored now. To schedule him again really feels like disregard for the community," said Thomas Soule, communications manager for the LA Gay and Lesbian Center.
gay activists
Soule was speaking in reference to a show Buju Banton was booked for in [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Highlands[/COLOR][/COLOR], Hollywood, California, in 2006. The show was cancelled at that location but it was eventually re-booked at the Century Club, California.
Banton has been facing opposition from gay activists group in the North America and Europe for many years now because of the lyrics of his 1992 single Boom Bye Bye.
Earlier this year, iTunes removed controversial murder music from Jamaican artistes in its North American markets. Boom Bye Bye by Buju Banton, Chi-Chi Man by T.O.K and Log On by Elephant Man were pulled from iTunes stores and website.
Yesterday, THE STAR made several efforts to get in contact with Gargamel Music, Buju Banton and his representative but was unsuccessful.
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