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Homophobic Musician Not a Winner by Esther Zinn February 1, 2010 |
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photo by Ville Miettinen / Wikimedia Commons
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Buju Banton did not receive a Grammy for Best Reggae Album on Sunday, amidst protests from gay rights groups over Banton’s violent lyrics which call on listeners to commit hate crimes against gays. The award instead went to Stephen Marley, the son of Bob Marley.
Buju is best known for his song entitled “Boom Bye Bye” in which he advocates the shooting of gays and lesbians in the back of the head and advocates the peeling and skinning of a gay man’s flesh to be burned, “like an old tire.”
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Los Angeles LGBT center purchased ad space in Daily Variety denouncing Banton and urging the Grammys to denounce homophobia in music and any art "that promotes or celebrates violence against any group of people." In response, the Recording Academy replied that it honors artists "regardless of politics" and that "artists of a variety of political or cultural perspectives."
Banton is currently imprisoned in Florida, awaiting trial on charges of cocaine possession. Banton stated recently that he "sees no end to the war" between himself and the LGBT community in his music.
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