US: Jamaican rapper Queen Ifrica dropped from concert over homophobic lyrics
A Jamaican rapper who was due to perform a show in New York has been dropped from the line-up, after protests over her homophobic lyrics.
The show, ‘Invasion of the Queenz’, was due to be held last night at Amazura Concert Hall, New York, but groups had protested after Ifrica was given top billing.
One of her tracks about homosexuality is titled “Keep It To Yourself”, and her lyrics include “no faggotism”.
Yesterday, New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm led a 200-strong protest outside the club, calling for the show to be dropped.
He said: “We don’t need homophobic people like her coming to Queens to spread their message of hate.”
John Rios, manager of Amazura Concert Hall, confirmed to the Jamaican Obsever that she had been dropped from the concert amid the protests.
He said: “She is not performing. Everyone else will. The show will go on though.
“We’re not prejudiced against anyone. I welcome the gay community and we get along with everybody.
“There’s no discrimination.”
Queen Ifrica’s management said in a statement: “Queen Ifrica expresses that, while she remains grounded in her morals which espouses heterosexuality, she wants to make it abundantly and emphatically clear that she does not condone nor has ever supported or advocated violence against any group or community, whether implicitly or explicitly.”
Homosexuality is criminalised in Jamaica, and a huge public stigma has lead to an upsurge in anti-gay hate crimes in the country.
