Two Canadian Beenie Man concerts canceled over homophobic lyrics controversy

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports that two upcoming Beenie Man concerts--in the Ontario cities of Toronto and London--have been canceled over the continuing controversy regarding the dance-hall singer's past homophobic lyrics. In a statement released Thursday, organizers of the two shows, which were scheduled for September, noted "ongoing concerns and pressures regarding Beenie Man's controversial lyrical content." The cancellation comes in the wake of MTV's disinviting Beenie Man to perform at one of the Miami concerts planned in conjunction with the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night. The Jamaican-born Grammy winner has recorded songs with lines like "come to execute all the gays" and "queers must be killed." He recently issued an apology through his record label, but gay activists said the apology was too vague.