Within 24 hours of Virgin Records issuing a supposed apology from Jamaican reggae singer Beenie Man over his incitements to murder gay people, Clyde McKenzie, head of public relations for Beenie Man’s management company Shocking Vibes, told Radio Jamaica that the statement was ‘not an apology’, that it was initiated by Virgin Records not by Beenie Man, and that Beenie Man reserved his right to continue criticizing ‘the homosexual lifestyle’, of which he did not approve. Brett Lock of England’s OutRage!, who was also part of the interview, said: ‘Despite being asked several times, Clyde McKenzie strenuously denied that the statement was an apology to gay people or for homophobic lyrics. He insisted it was just a general condemnation of violence.’
Chicagoans are writing letters to the House of Blues to protest the planned Oct. 25 stop here as part of Beanie’s U.S. tour. See www.CABN.org.