Lithuanian musician: I let everyone down by comparing gays to paedophiles
Music producer Ten Walls has issued another apology, after he compared gay people to paedophiles.
The Lithuanian ‘Walking With Elephants’ producer and musician, whose debut song broke into the UK’s top ten last year, posted an anti-gay rant to Facebook earlier this year referring to LGBT people as people of a “different breed”, likening them to paedophiles.
He wrote: “A priest’s lie for many years was uncovered when children were massively raped. Unfortunately the people of other breed continue to do it and everyone knows it but does nothing.”
Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė hit out at the comments, adding that they exemplify issues with homophobia in the eastern European country.
Three months on, the musician, real name Marijus Adomaitis, issued a sincere apology for his comments.
He wrote in an email to the media and PinkNews: “Earlier this year I posted comments on my Facebook page, that I deeply regret. My post was linked to homophobia and was very offensive.
“I am ashamed to have hurt so many people: my family, my country, my colleagues, my friends, the Global LGBT community and many others. Since then I have taken time out to reflect on what I did and work out a way of apologizing that expresses how sorry I am.
“I am saddened by my own behaviour and the impact of my actions on others. I offended a lot of people, was the cause of horrible debates, wrecked both my own and the confidence of others and ruined the plans for many people I was working with.
He adds: “I have to tell you that my action was completely out of character and done at a particularly angry and stressful time in my life. This is not an excuse, but I would like you to know that the content of my post is not a true reflection of my feelings.
“For many years I have been happily working and collaborating with people from different cultures, religious and sexual attitudes. I have always respected everyone. My post made no sense, even to me.”
He added: “It is my intention to do something in my home country of Lithuania, to support LGBT groups and educate others on acceptance and tolerance.
“I am now part of a group of people who have created an electronic opera ‘Carmen’ with a strong message of this.
“I hope my involvement in this project will be the first step to educating others in my home country that homophobia is simply not acceptable and that everyone should be free to live the life they choose.”
