WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - The House of Blues has canceled a concert featuring dancehall reggae star Capleton after a gay and lesbian community group protested over his songs' references to violence against gays.
The popular nightclub on the Sunset Strip made the decision late Wednesday to cancel the Monday scheduled appearance by the Jamaican native, whose lyrics have suggested gays be hanged, drowned, burned or shot.The club tried to create a forum in which the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, city leaders and Capleton could "resolve the interpretation of certain song lyrics that appear offensive to the gay and lesbian community," House of Blues spokesman Jack Gannon said in a statement. Capleton, who is on tour, was unable to attend, Gannon said, and the concert was cancelled "out of respect for the community."
Capleton was traveling Thursday from Chicago to Scottsdale, Ariz., and was not immediately available to comment, Gannon said.
Capleton, whose album "Still Blazin" was nominated for a Grammy in 2002, has previously said he no longer performs the homophobic songs. Among his songs is one with the Jamaican-dialect lyrics, "Bun Out Di Chi Chi," which translates to "burn out the gay man."
Jim Key, spokesman for the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, said he was pleased with the cancellation but "shocked" that the artist was still scheduled to perform at the House of Blues in New Orleans on Oct. 11, which is National Coming Out Day.
Capleton was the latest dancehall reggae star to draw strong protest for homophobic lyrics. In recent months, gay advocacy groups have successfully staged boycotts against reggae artists Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and Beenie Man because of their anti-gay lyrics.
The groups were able to convince MTV to pulled Beenie Man from performing at its Video Music Awards in Miami because of past lyrics like "I'm dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays." In England, the Music of Black Origin organization, which gives awards to black musicians from around the world, cut Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel from its nominations list.
