Donna Tam Reports
Bonus Entertainment sent out a press release Tuesday announcing a Nov. 27 show featuring reggae performer Capleton at the Red Fox Tavern.
Emma Breacain, who freelances for Bonus Entertainment, announced Thursday that she would no longer represent the company because of the response she received from friends who were upset that she was the author of the press release.
”Maybe it's because we are currently seeing what looks to be an actual epidemic of suicides among gay children that I feel OK being swayed by popular opinion and taking such an extreme position in leaving Bonus Entertainment, which has treated me wonderfully for the few short months I've been writing their press. I know that quitting will help no one and hurt only me,” she wrote in an e-mail to the Times-Standard. “The last 14 hours have taught me that people who know me have some high expectations of me and how I represent myself and with whom I affiliate.”
A call to Bonus Entertainment was not returned. E-mails to the Red Fox Tavern management and Capleton's management were not returned.
According to activists, Capleton's past songs had lyrics about burning, hanging and killing gay men and women.
Last November, the Red Fox Tavern canceled the show of another reggae performer, Bounty Killer,after activists threatened to protest outside the show. The show was one of several that prompted local activists to meet in February in hopes of keeping the performers out of Humboldt County.
Todd Larsen of Queer Humboldt, an organizer of the meeting, said the meeting was meant to educate venue owners about “murder music” reggae artists.
At the meeting, participants were presented with an informational packet listing reggae artists who have anti-gay lyrics in songs and/or have signed compassionate declarations but then broke or renounced those agreements. Those artists included Capleton, Bounty Killer and Buju Banton, all of whom have had shows scheduled in Humboldt County.
Larsen said several venues were very responsive to the information, so he was dismayed over the Red Fox Tavern's decision to book Capleton.
”We're really disappointed in the management of Red Fox Tavern,” he said. “That after having gone through education and having material sent to them on this subject of murder music that they would go ahead and do this.”
Breacain, who describes herself as a “queer-friendly hetero gal,” said she researched the artist and tried to write a thoughtful press release that would let the public decide if they wanted to “see the show, protest it, or do something else that night.” The release includes a paragraph acknowledging the controversy surrounding Capleton's music.
”If as a publicist I can only promote acts that pass my personal moral sniff-test, I will have lots of research to do and very little to write,” she wrote. “After much internal debate I gave myself a test. I thought of other artists like Ice Cube and Ice-T and Eminem and Andrew Dice Clay and Guns N' Roses, thought of the immoral and illegal and horrific activities each has glorified. I asked myself if as a publicist I would refuse to write up any of those, and I would not.”
Donna Tam can be reached at 441-0532 or dtam@times-standard.com.
Meanwhile BRIAN SWISLOW Owner of Red Fox responded in the heated firestorm on the Willit's News discussion page where the story also broke.....
TANYA STEPHENS is a well respected reggae artist who has lyrics that support gay rights, and is on tour with Capleton... I think that tells you exactly what the REGGAE COMMUNITY is up to.. They are bringing people together for the sake of music and healing.
It is difficult to respond to a person that goes under th name of hate... Why does everyone have an opinion but nobody can state their name?"
Supporters such as Censorship out of Humbold say:
"Since when do we censor and band art in this country because people are offended over interpret metaphors not literal words. Capelton like every one in America has freedom of speech.
The Red Fox is only a business who in the entertainment industry, a platform for music and art. People vote with there dollars in this free market. If people don't support this artist he wont be back here. But to ban an artist and affect peoples livelihoods seems selfish. When this artist has committed no crimes.
The Federal government isn't banning this artist. A group of people who don't like the interpretation of an artist lyrics want to. And have waged a campaign to demonize a man who brings much joy to many people all over the world, far more than are offend. Capelton is not a monster he is an artist.
Where do you draw the line with censorship. Capleton is not infringing on peoples rights. Censorship does!"
Let's watch this one folks.
Peace and tolerance.
H
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