May 21, 2012 | Arts / Entertainment

Beenie Man sorry for wanting gays dead

Jamaican reggae star Beenie Man has apologized for saying not-so-nice things about gay people in his songs.

The popular star was banned from performing in countries like Britain, New Zealand, and Belgium because of lyrics like "Well I'm think of a new Jamaica, me come to execute all of the gays," while calling on fans to kill gay disc jockeys. 

He now says he is sorry. In a YouTube video, Beenie said, "Let me make this clear and straight. I have nothing against no one. I respect each and every human being, regardless of which race or creed, regardless of which religious belief you believe in, and regardless of which sexual preference you are, including gay and lesbian people.

"I love each and every one and am just begging each and everyone to do the same...do not fight against me for a song that I sang 20 years ago...I was a kid. Now I know that people live in the world that live their life differently than the way I live my life. Just love the music and respect the music."

Not everyone is convinced.

"Beenie Man's so-called apology is so vague that it does not even mention what he is apologising for," argued Brett Lock, from gay-rights group Outrage!. "It could be an apology for anything. It contains no explicit regret for his incitements to murder gay people, and no specific affirmation of his respect for homosexuals and homosexual human rights."

Activist Peter Tatchell pointed out that Beenie Man's apology is being issued a few months before he wants back into the UK in order to promote a new album. 

Beenie Man offers apology for his homophobic lyrics [The Independent]