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Odd Future Furor Downunder
The inclusion of L.A. rap posse Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All on the Jan. 20 New Zealand leg of the Big Day Out festival sparked anger in the gay community.
A lobby group led by gay activist Calum Bennachie wrote to the Big Day Out and Auckland City Council (which owns Big Day Out venue Mt. Smart Stadium) questioning the act’s inclusion “despite the fact their songs contain extremely homophobic, misogynistic and hateful lyrics.”
Photo: Jason Moore
Voodoo Experience, City Park, New Orleans, La.
Although media reported that the festival had dropped Odd Future from the bill, promoter Ken West said that is not the case as yet.
“The Auckland City Council has jumped the gun, leaking that Odd Future will no longer be appearing at the Auckland Big Day Out due to lobbyist groups,” West said. “We are currently in discussions with Odd Future and will be announcing their own solo show for Auckland in the coming weeks. This does not affect Australia.”
The act is still listed on the Big Day Out website as playing in NZ. The festival declined to add further comment to Pollstar.
Jamaica’s Beenie Man was pulled from the 2010 event after gay rights groups expressed outrage at his invitation due to lyrics such as: “I’m dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays.”’