Action Bronson won't play NXNE show at Yonge-Dundas Square
Music festival’s organizers move controversial rapper’s show due to community demand
Action Bronson, the New York rapper who sparked the ire of thousands in Toronto, will not be performing at Yonge-Dundas square after all.
North By Northeast (NXNE) organizers have asked Bronson, who was scheduled to perform at a free show at the public square on June 21, to play at a ticketed venue instead. It's not immediately clear if the rapper will agree to play at an alternate space during the city-wide music festival.
An online petition started by Torontonian Erica Shiner urged NXNE organizers to drop the artist because of his song Consensual Rape, which Shiner said features numerous derogatory lines that "glorifies gang rape and murdering women."
The Change.org petition now has more than 37,715 supporters, and on Thursday, Toronto mayor John Tory added his voice to the outrage.
"We are not moving the Action show because we believe in censoring him or any other artists. In fact, we find the limiting of artistic expression distasteful," NXNE's organizers said in a statement.
The organizers said, however, that Yonge-Dundas Square is the city's space and they feel obliged to listen to the community's wishes.
"As annual guests in this space we feel we must accede to the strong wishes of the community and honour their input,"the statement said.