Two homophobic reggae stars have been booted off off the British Mobo Awards because of their inflammatory anti-gay lyrics.
Jamaican singers Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel had their nominations withdrawn after they refused to apologise for their songs.The songs' lyrics incite killing homosexuals and celebrate attacking gay people.
Organisers of the Music Of Black Origin awards had demanded written apologies from the pair and axed them when they were not received.
A statement from Mobo organisers said: "The Mobo Awards position has been clear from the outset - they do not condone music that clearly incites violence to gay and lesbian people."
The move was welcomed by the gay human rights group Outrage!
Spokesman Brett Lock said: "The singers refusal to apologise is indicative of their unrepentant violent homophobia."
Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel had been shortlisted by the Mobo's voting academy for their latest music, which does not incite attacks on gays.
However, an earlier Elephant Man song, We Nuh Like Gay, says: "Queers must be killed! Take them by surprise".
Vybz Kartel sings "lesbians and queers must be assassinated" in his song Bedroom Slaughteration.
The Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police are currently reviewing some of the lyrics of Beenie Man and Elephant Man, among a number of cases of homophobic and offensive lyrics being reviewed as capable of inciting hate crimes.
