Jamaican reggae artist Buju Banton’s Grammy nomination was slammed by gay rights groups who condemned his prejudice against homosexuality, reports said on Friday.
The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Centre and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation published a full-page advertorial in entertainment newspaper Daily Variety appealing to Grammy organisers to use the broadcast of the ceremony to censure music “that promotes or celebrates violence against any group of people”.
The advertorial, which came out on Friday, was written in a letter format with signatures from over 20 gay groups, as well as anti-violence and civil rights lobbyists. It said that giving honours to “an artist such as Buju Banton, honours his extraordinary hateful work”.
Banton’s 1988 track, ‘Boom, Bye Bye’, has sparked controversies as it promotes killing of gay men. Protests over the lyrics of his music led promoters to call off several of his US concerts last year.
However, he remained adamant about his perspective on the homosexuality issue and was quoted as saying that there is “no end to the war” between gay men and himself.
Meanwhile, the Recording Academy said that politics has nothing to do with the Grammy Awards being given to artists as nominations have been given to musicians from various cultural and political perspectives over the years.
Similar protests were earlier heard from gay rights activists, who denounced Eminem’s Grammy performance and nomination. His song also features lyrics that offend homosexuals. In efforts to pacify the anger, legendary gay singer Elton John performed together with the rapper that year.
