More Reggae Concerts Cancelled After Gay Rights Groups Protest

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


Elephant ManThe controversy over anti-gay lyrics in reggae music continues: performances by Sizzla and Elephant Man in Toronto have been cancelled following an outcry from Canadian organizations who came together under the “Stop Murder Music” flag. Police had already intended to monitor the concerts for “hate speech,” but then promoters pulled the plug on the events, scheduled for September 28 and October 6th.

Stop Murder Music Canada founder Akim Larcher told the Toronto Star that the reggae stars “shouldn’t have been allowed to get visas to perform in the country… it’s not about censorship or artistic freedom. That stops when hate propaganda is involved.”

We’ve covered the controversy over anti-gay lyrics in reggae music here before, as well as the current kerfuffle over sexist and generally nasty language in American hip-hop. While I’m inclined to side with artists, since offense and shock has always been a part of art’s power, is there a qualitative difference between calling for the murder of “batty boys” and calling women “hos”? Why do white artists seem to get a free pass, with the whole “I’m singing in character” defense? And when does exercising your right to free speech by protesting another’s speech interfere with their right to, um, speak? Answers to all these questions coming up tonight at 11.

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate