When one of your songs encourages the banishment of homosexuals, you can expect to feel some backlash. That’s what reggae star Beenie Man is experiencing this week.

Beenie Man was scheduled to be involved in some respect in the MTV Video Music Awards this weekend in Miami. However, after gay rights groups announced plans to stage a protest, MTV told him to stay home and cancelled his appearance. They were upset over the song “Queers Must Be Killed.”

Beenie Man reportedly issues an apology (“I offer my sincerest apologies to those who might have been offended, threatened or hurt by my songs”) but that wasn’t enough for VMA organizers, who didn’t want anything to take away from their show.

His manager told the AP that he understood MTV’s decision, but said the lyrics are merely “metaphorical.”

The dancehall artist has had concerts in New York and Europe cancelled in recent weeks. Two September performances, planned for September in Toronto and London, Ontario, were cancelled yesterday, as organizers decided to stay away from the controversy.

He still has several U.S. concerts planned over the next three months. The Beenie Man-less VMAs will air Sunday.

His latest album, “Back to Basics,” was released in July.






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