h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Tragedy.

Diageo own Guinness and they also own Red Stripe. Red Stripe sponsored a Dancehall festival in Jamaica a couple of weeks ago that included performances from Vybz Kartel & Bountykiller.

Vybz Kartel and BountyKiller have both written songs suggesting that their auudience burns and kills gay chaps, and neither has signed up to the (albeit fruitless lipservice) campaign the stop murder music or retracted their lyrical stance.

Therefore I will no longer be drinking Guinness, or any other Diageo brand. This is irksome in the extreme.

Are you going to write to them to let them know your position? Maybe you could publicise this a bit...I'm sure this wouldn't be good publicity for them at all.

I'm trying to get the union to get involved (I've recently become the London rep, albeit temporarily, for our LGB&T group) and spread the word a little (such as posting this.)

To be honest I'm amazed that this hasn't cropped up before. I can't see any references to Diageo on Peter Tatchell's site. He doesn't usually ignore a campaigning opportunity against big businesses. In fact there's no reference to Diageo in *any* of the news stories about this. The festival's called the Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest so you'd think somebody would have made the connection!

This is a PDF from Outrage (Peter Tatchell's campaigning group - their a bit OTT for my taste) which gives some background and lyrics:

http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/Dancehall-Dossier-FINAL.pdf

It's a couple of years old now.

hummmm surly not!

Have these songs been played/aired here in the UK? If so isn't it illegal now to incite hatred or violence whether racial, sexual or otherwise? I've never heard of the "singers/groups" you mention then I'm hardly up to date these days on music stuff.
There's no excuse for incitement through music, happens a lot with so called rap stuff. Time the music brigade got their house in order.

Even if they've never been played outside Jamaica (thought they have) and even if it was acceptable to promote violence against gay people in Jamaica (which it isn't) it's Diageo's sponsorship of the event and their implicit acceptance of the stance of these artists that I take umbrage with.

Diageo sponsors artists that promote hate crime. Not a good message to be sending out!

'Diageo Sponsors Artists That Promote Hate Crime'

I feel a FaceBook group coming on...


...but am also wary of litigation so might check a few more bits out first.

You really need to let Diageo know about this. It's entirely possible that they don't know.

facebook group.... ooooOOOooooo

I'd be surprised if they didn't know: Buju Banton's recent (and since retracted) signature for Stop Murder Music was relatively high profile, and they should know who's playing at their festivals, but I am going to write to Diageo before I get carried away elsewhere. It would be wise to clarify whether they are ignorant or careless (I doubt they actually condone the message they are sending.)

Roy,
It is so obvious that this ignoramus has about as much talent as a dog and pony show. Yes, do write to Guinness and other promoters, but as we both know those who have such vocal hatred of gay folks often have a few skeletons in their pink interior closets.

I don't think I've ever heard anything by Beanie Man, Buju Banton or any of the others

I did see Beanie Man's reaction when he was being interviewed by Simon Amstell. I don't think Beanie Man knew Amstell was gay until Amstell told him and asked him if he fancied a night on the town. Big bad Jamaican bloke completely unsettled by a skinny gay Jew. Priceless.

Crikey I would like to see that. Must be amusing. Unfortunately it does not appear to be on YouTube.

It was three or four years ago, on Popworld (back when Popworld rocked, largely because of the aforementioned Mr Amstell and his irreverence.)

Not on YouTube? That's staggering!

Indeed.

I think Monsuier Amstell is side splitting. Buzzcocks is probably the funniest thing on TV now IMHO.

Nope, no sign of it on YouTube. That's a shame: it was a quality moment.

I feared that Mark Lamarr would be irreplaceable, and Simon Amstell did seem a tad out of his first couple of NMTB episodes, but it's all come right in the end. His respect for a guest seems to be inversely proportional to their opinion of themselves which regularly makes the programme rivetting.

I despise Mark Lamarr I think he is the biggest smug "see you next tues" in the whole world. I hate him sooo much that it made watching Buzzcocks difficult for me. Even with Bill Bailey my fave comedian.

I was so pleased when Lamarr quit.

You are far from alone in that opinion.

I'm currently reading Diageo's Corporate Responsibilty wotsit. Fun, fun, fun.

While it isn't yet illegal to incite hatred because of sexuality (it will be soon, t'is being brought in now Ruth Kelly has been stripped of an important job) I know a lot of clubs in the UK refuse to let these morons play, as they get so much bad publicity.

There was a case a few years back where Beenie Man was due to play a club up here in Manchester, until the club was threatened with an official boycott from all the universities, as well as protests from gay groups. Club backed down pretty sharpish.

I think most of these performers find it very difficult to get visas for the UK, because they causes so much trouble, but I'm not certain.

Simon Amstell versus Beenie Man was absolutely legendary - I've never developed so much respect for someone so quickly. Haven't watched Popworld since him and Miquita "oh, it's all so wonderful" Oliver left.

If you set up a facebook group, give me a shout.

I sent this email to them last night:

Dear Sir or Madam,

On Thursday 19th July 2007 the Red Stripe Reggaesumfest, Montego Bay, hosted sets by Vybz Cartel, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man. All three of these artists have recorded material which incites their audience to maim and/or kill gay men and lesbians.

Unless you feel that it is appropriate for a Diageo brand to be associated with these artists could you please make a public statement apologising for your involvement and committing to ensure that you won't sponsor such artists, or any event they participate in, until they have renounced their lyrics and statements which promote violence against lesbians and gay men?

I don't want to quote the lyrics here but some can be found on this PDF:

http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/Dancehall-Dossier-FINAL.pdf

I and a number of my acquaintances are boycotting Diageo products until you have made a statement such as that suggested above. I'm quite partial to a pint of Guinness so would appreciate your immediate attention to this matter.


Yours faithfully,

********

I'll wait and see what the response is. I've been told that they are probably completely unaware of the issue and/or their inadvertent involvement so are likely to respond positively. In retrospect the 'Guinness' line might have been a bit too flippant. Nevermind.