Posts Tagged ‘Controversy’

First Nelly Furtado, then Beyoncé, followed by Mariah Carey and now Usher. Since the outbreak of violence against protesters in Libya last month, stars who performed for the country’s dictator, Moammar Gadhafi, and his family have donated their fees to charity in an effort to distance themselves from the controversy.

Through his rep, Usher says he “will be donating all of my personal proceeds from that event to various human rights organizations.”

Carey says she’s embarrassed to have ever been a part of a celebration for the Gadhafis and Beyoncé says she had already donated her payment to Haitian earthquake relief last year.

Canadian singer Furtado was the catalyst for the donations after tweeting her plan to donate the $1 million she received from the Gadhafi family. “In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Qaddafi clan to perform a 45 min. Show for guests at a hotel in Italy. I am going to donate the $,” she wrote on Feb. 28.

Fashion house Christian Dior has sacked its chief designer of 15 years after a videotape of the drunken Brit spewing venom in an anti-Semitic outburst surfaced online this week. The footage left brand muse and newly-minted Oscar winner Natalie Portman (who just so happens to be Jewish) “shocked and disgusted,” which prompted the upscale label to begin immediate proceedings to axe Galliano.

In a seething statement issued to the press Monday evening, Portman to cut all links with Galliano after he was heard telling fellow customers in a Paris cafe that their mothers “would have been gassed” and “I love Hitler.” The explosive video emerged shortly after the designer — a former favorite of the late Princess Diana — was suspended as Dior’s creative director last week following his arrest by French police over allegations he subjected yet another couple to a drunken, anti-Semitic tirade.

“I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today. In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way. I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful,” Natalie — the Israeli-born face of Dior’s Miss Cherie Dior fragrance — fumed in a press statement issued late Monday.

In the vid, uploaded to the Web this week, the clearly visible Style Guy tells a woman: “I love Hitler” and adds: “People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers, would be… gassed and… dead,” reports the Independent.”

Click HERE to Watch Galliano Shocking Tape!!!

Meanwhile, Galliano was summoned by Paris police on Monday to face three people who have accused him of racially berating them in a Parisian bar in two separate incidents last week.

“Galliano was sitting alone nursing his drink, when a few of us sat at the next table,” says the man who videotaped the designer’s rant. “Galliano kept intruding, throwing in comments about us and what we were saying. We knew who he was. We were stunned by what Galliano was saying, but then he started making vile anti-Semitic comments. His words were disgusting. He made it clear the Italian girls weren’t welcome and should go home. This was pure racism.”

Gallian, 50, continues to deny allegations that he is a bigot and has vowed to fight any charges leveled against him.

Mara Louw has blasted South African idols of being racist according to a local newspaper.
This is not the first time Mara who’s one of the judges of SA idols has a racial outburst concerning the singing competition.

Over the past years she’s always constantly claimed that black contestants were disadvantaged on the show.

According to recent reports , Mara has lashed out at reporters claiming that black Idols participants were at a disadvantage when it came to votes from viewers. Commenting about the latest Idols winner Elvis blue , Louw voiced her opinion that L’loyd should have won, “finished and klaar.”

She said Idols was full of racism and if M-Net did not soon sell the competition to the SABC, South Africans would never have a black winner.

“Black people don’t have access to DStv,” said Louw. “So a large part of South Africa is excluded. White people vote for white people and black people get the short end of the stick.”

In an exclusive interview with Rapport she said, “I am tired of being politically correct, the whites refuse to vote for blacks.”

“Shortly before the winner was announced, I sat and prayed and asked God to let L’loyd wins.  I was so shocked that he did not win , ” .

“Elvis can not dance. He had me in tears with his voice,  But L’loyd’s voice is better, he can dance and he was nice – but he has the wrong color”.

Louw who is certain that she will be crucified for her statements also said: “It’s time we acknowledge that a black man will never win SA Idols”

Wow!!! We’re speechless!!! Wonder if she’ll quit before Mnet fires her???

Freshlyground have worked with controversial South African artist Zapiro to create their new music video, a tongue-in-cheek political comment on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

The video depicts an aloof Mugabe riding in the back of a chauffeur-driven presidential car and reading a newspaper, “Bob’s Times”, with the front page headline: “Glorious victory for Zanu-PF”. It cuts to Freshlyground singing in a shebeen, dancing like chickens and challenging Africa’s oldest leader to relinquish his 30-year grip on power.

At first lead singer Zolani Mahola pays tribute to the 86-year-old veteran’s part in the struggle for Zimbabwe’s independence, describing him as a “supernova”. Her lyrics continue: “An iridescent example of honour for the coming generation/ You promised always to open the doors for us/ Indeed it is you and only you who sleeps with the key/ You are chicken to change!”

Mugabe’s car comes to a sudden halt and some chicken feathers flutter in front of the windscreen. He looks out at an impoverished couple clutching chickens, but chooses to ignore them and drive on. Chickens have become used as barter trade, including as bus fares, in rural areas of Zimbabwe where cash is scarce.

At the end of the video, the Mugabe puppet transforms into a chicken with suit and spectacles intact.

The video also features puppets of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu playing dominoes, polygamous president Jacob Zuma flirting with women, former president Thabo Mbeki and other leading South African figures.

The puppets are designed by Jonathan Shapiro, alias Zapiro, a political cartoonist, whose provocative oeuvre includes an image of Zuma poised to rape Lady Justice.

Zapiro told the Times in South Africa: “I’ve been doing cartoons of Mugabe for years. Working with Freshlyground gave us the opportunity to finally add him to our cast of latex characters.

“Although I positively love this puppet, I truly hope we can retire him sooner rather than later.”

The video was directed by Thierry Cassuto, executive producer of satirical internet show ZA News. It was filmed in Cape Town with the band dressed in Zimbabwean-style 80s fashion.

Freshlyground’s seven members are a racial mix hailing from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Sarah Barnett, a spokeswoman for the group, said they “believe in freedom of speech and that people should be able to talk about topics that affect many civilians”.

She added: “The video is not an attack on Mugabe at all. It is a tongue-in-cheek challenge for him to reflect on things and become the hero he used to be, to consider his actions and surprise us. We are not afraid of his reaction. Why should we be in a democratic world?”

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE CONTROVERSIAL MUSIC VIDEO

D o you think Freshlyground went too far by comparing Robert Mugabe to a chicken in their music video???

Erykah Badu now faces misdemeanor criminal charges following a complaint over her controversial music video for “Window Seat“.

Dallas police officers charged her with disorderly conduct on Friday for walking around Dealey Plaza  naked. According to Rolling Stone, no one who witnessed it called police during the shoot, but police asked those who saw her naked to file a complaint.

Click here to watch Erykah’s Controversial video

Controversial South African runner Caster Semenya’s mother has hit out at claims that her daughter’s 800m at the World Athletics Championships was invalid – because she is actually a man.

Caster Semenya, 18, stunned a crowd of thousands in Berlin last night by storming to success in the 800 metres final in which Britain’s Jennifer Meadows won a bronze.

It was the South African’s first major international sporting competition. She won in one minute and 55.45 seconds – beating defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei, a Kenyan, by a massive 2.45 seconds.

But the athlete’s triumph has been overshadowed by growing accusations that she is in fact a man.

Yesterday the world athletics body, the IAAF, confirmed it asked South Africa to test their star 18-year-old’s gender three weeks ago.

The complex series of tests were prompted after her muscular physique and extraordinary performances sparked speculation over whether she really was female.

If the tests prove she is in fact male, she will lose her medal.

But her mother Dorcus Semenya today defended her athlete daughter.

‘I am not even worried about that because I know who and what my child is,’ she said defiantly.

‘Mokgadi Caster is a girl and no one can change that.’