One of the main targets of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights groups, Beenie Man has made a video statement, released at the start of the week by the Rototom Sunsplash festival (where he is booked to play).
"Hello, this is Beenie Man. To all music lovers, and all my fans. I have come to understand that some people are always creating problems to stop me from working. Listen to what I have to say, I'm going to be very clear: I have nothing against anyone, I respect all human beings, whatever their race, religion, sexuality, including gays and lesbians. I respect all human beings. I simply ask everyone to respect other people's beliefs, because we are human beings and that is what human beings do.
Don't fight me over songs I sang twenty years ago. Nobody in this world is the same as they were twenty years before. Neither am I. I was young, I come from Waterhouse, a small community, and I had no idea what the world was like. Now I know that in the world, people live lives different from mine, and I must respect that. So please, I beg you, don't hold those old songs against me. Love the music, respect the music. I love and respect everybody, and I would like everybody to do the same. Thank you very much."