No complaints over Bounty Killer concert says Met
The Metropolitan police has responded to criticism that it let a homoophobic singer perform in London.
In a statement to PinkNews.co.uk, a spokeswoman said that meetings have been held between police, the venue’s management and lesbian and gay groups to discuss this issue.
“It has been agreed that the artist would not perform songs that contain what could be considered to be homophobic lyrics,” she said.
“There was no intelligence to suggest that any offences would be committed at the even and subsequently the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) decided to continue the event.”
She added that no complaints had been received about the Bounty Killer’s Easter Sunday concert in Stratford but that the MPS will consider any allegations of crime and investigate in the normal way.
The Jamaican reggae and dancehall DJ, born Rodney Price, has already had two concerts cancelled in Bradford and Birmingham following protests by the gay human rights group OutRage!
The Met have previously stated that artists would not be allowed to perform unless they sign the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA), which prohibits the performance of any music that encourages or glorifies any form of violence.
Price, who was brought up in Kingston, Jamaica, became a household name in Jamaica in the early 90s, and later became known in the USA and Europe after collaborating with the Fugees, Wyclef Jean and No Doubt.
In 2003, he cancelled two of his concerts in the UK, fearing he would be arrested for the homophobic content of his songs.
Price’s lyrics include the lines “You know we need no promo to rub out dem homo” and “Mi ready fi go wipe out this fag”, which encourage the murder of homosexuals.
Peter Tatchell of OutRage! who coordinated the British concert cancellation campaign said:
“The police seem to be letting Bounty Killer off the hook.
“Police claims that they are cracking down on homophobic hate crimes now look like a public relations stunt at the expense of the lesbian and gay community.
“A white racist singer who advocated killing black people would not be allowed to perform anywhere in London, even if he agreed not to incite the killing of black people at his concert.
“Yet when it comes to straight homophobic singers who urge the murder of gay people, the police adopt a softer stance. Why the double standards?”
