NXNE Defends Action Bronson Against Accusations He "Glorifies Gang-Raping and Murdering Women"

Action Bronson is slated to play a NXNE festival event at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto on June 21. Yesterday, a woman named Erica Shiner launched a Change.org petition to bar the New York rapper from performing at the event, saying that he "glorifies gang-raping and murdering women."

She cited lyrics from his 2011 song "Consensual Rape", calling them "hate speech", and his 2011 video for "Brunch", "in which the artist cooks a meal over a woman's dead body, rolls her up in a carpet, throws her in his trunk, and proceeds to violently stab her when he discovers she's still alive (trigger warning, obviously)."

Shiner wrote, "A musician who glorifies rape and violence against women should never be allowed to perform at a public space in our city." So far, over 1,600 supporters have signed the petition.

Now, the organizers of NXNE have issued a statement addressing the petition, defending the artist and confirming that his set will go on as scheduled. "NXNE believes each and every one of these artists have the right to express their views through music, but those views belong to them and them alone,” the statement reads. “Those who are offended by an artist are invited to check out other Festival showcases, as NXNE will present hundreds of artists this June – some may be considered controversial, but most are just plain fun.” Check out the full statement below.

Here are the "Consensual Rape" lyrics cited by the petition:

Then dig your shorty out cuz I geeked her up on molly
Have her eating dick, no need for seasoning
If seven dudes are in the room then she's pleasing them
Like a trooper. Hit her in the pooper. Throw her in the shower, then I take her out to Lupa
I'm kinky, I'll hit it even if it's stinky
Put em in the shower, make the pussy brand new
Ran through.
Give 'em money what I can't do
Stuff her lunchbox & burn her with the candle

Here's NXNE's statement in full:

On Tuesday, May 26 a group of concerned Torontonians created a petition to remove Action Bronson from NXNE’s lineup on Sunday, June 21 at Yonge-Dundas Square. The petition has spawned a passionate online discussion. The Festival would like to address this topic.

Action Bronson performed at Yonge-Dundas Square as part of NXNE in 2012 with Killer Mike, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. It was a positive concert that was described by reviewers as “laid back”, “a lot of fun” and a “world class hip-hop showcase”. NXNE is confident the lineup on June 21 at Yonge-Dundas Square will make for another enjoyable day of music in a public space.

“NXNE will also present a number of rap artists at various venues, such as Tink and Kate Tempest, who have be lauded for the undisguised feminist viewpoints in their music.” says Sara Peel, Managing Director of NXNE. ” “That being said, in the interest of moving forward in a positive manner, we are engaging in discussion with our community about this important issue, and looking to provide opportunities for concerned voices to be heard.”

NXNE believes each and every one of these artists have the right to express their views through music, but those views belong to them and them alone. Those who are offended by an artist are invited to check out other Festival showcases, as NXNE will present hundreds of artists this June – some may be considered controversial, but most are just plain fun.

Meanwhile, a Bronson defender named James Fricke has launched a counter-petition urging fans to "stop feminist extremeists [sic] from censoring Action Bronson's free speech and his performance at NXNE." It offers an alternate interpretation of the lyrics in question:

Erica Shiner and her parteners [sic] either knowingly or unknowingly manipulated the meaning of the lyrics do [to] describe the non-consensual drugging and gang raping of the woman in the lyrics, based on the single line ‘cuz I geeked her up on molly’. This is a loose play of language to describe his giving her molly, and her willingly taking it.

via Zoe Camp