Action Bronson NXNE show sparks outrage over lyrics

Toronto's North By Northeast music festival says it is "looking to create a positive outcome" to the controversy surrounding a New York rapper scheduled to perform here on June 21.

NXNE says it will provide an update tomorrow.

On Tuesday, Erica Shiner launched a petition to prevent Action Bronson from performing at Yonge-Dundas Square as part of the annual music festival since she feels his lyrics constitute hate speech.

"We are petitioning to have this artist removed from the line-up of this show, on the grounds that he produces hate speech," she said in her online petition on Change.org. Her call has now been backed by more than 23,000 people on the site.

At issue is the rapper's song "Consensual Rape". Shiner transcribed some of the lyrics on her petition, which include lyrics about giving a woman drugs and asking her to perform sex acts on seven men. 

She also references a video the rapper produced in which he is depicted killing a woman.

"Action Bronson glorifies gang-raping and murdering women. It is an insult to the people of Toronto," she said.

NXNE responded to the petition by saying that this is not the first time Action Bronson has performed — he gave a free public show in 2012.

"Those who are offended by an artist are invited to check out other festival showcases," said Sara Peel, NXNE's managing director.

For now, the show is set to go on as scheduled.

On Twitter, the rapper joked about seeing everyone at the show.