The Gay Basher v. The Gay Man
By Keith Boykin, in sexuality
Wednesday, October 4 2006, 11:38AM
Not to be outdone by Buju Banton and Beenie Man, a popular French dancehall singer named Krys has recorded a song called “McDoom Dead,” which encourages people to kill and burn Vincent McDoom, a real life black gay TV personality in France. “Burn all bisexuals, transsexuals, homosexuals and transvestites," the song says. "They make me allergic. Now, that’s enough! Gay people stink! I want to kill them with my music. I don’t want to deal with Vincent McDoom, I just want to shoot him, klik klak boom!”
The subject of the attack, Vincent McDoom, has received death threats as a result of the song, according to BabyBoy magazine. But Krys has largely escaped criticism, until recently. During a recent appearance on a French television show, Krys was surprised to find his target, Vincent McDoom, was also a guest. McDoom read Krys's homophobic lyrics on the air, outraging the audience and other guests on the set. Krys reportedly tried to downplay the lyrics, reminding the audience that he was younger when he recorded the song. That sounds a lot like Buju Banton's explanation for his early homophobic lyrics, but it's not an excuse
Although Krys has a reputation for being politically correct, BabyBoy reports that there's a homophobic "bad boy" hidden beneath the veneer. And he's just a part of what the magazine calls a "very organised homophobic business in French hip-hop."
McDoom is described as "very upset" about the song, which already has led to some negative reactions. “Today, I have to face death threats and I receive some weird intimidating calls on my phone. Nobody helped me, even the gay organizations” he said. He told Baby Boy magazine that he fears for his life and wants justice. “It’s crazy," said McDoom. "I can’t believe this singer is not already in jail cause it’s totally prohibited to promote hate and crime in our country."
Since the live television show incident, Krys has refused to give interviews with the media about his song, and his record company (Universal France) refuses to let him provide more details, according to Baby Boy. "The label tries to minimise the incident to avoid massive media boycott and album sales fall. The truth is Universal France is trying to make a lot of money trying to popularise dancehall music and all these artists who officially use homophobia, misogyny, hate, violence in their lyrics," the magazine said.
Universal France also recently signed Admiral T, who has encouraged people to “kill and burn homosexuals in Paris." The whole scandal has generated a new debate in France about record labels and media responsibility. Baby Boy asks, "When will French justice punish these record companies for letting them duplicate, promote and making money with that kind of music?"
Comments conceal
nahtan serious
October 4 2006, 11:56AM
well well well. Mais non ce n'est pas possible!
Record companies allowing artistes to record hate music to make money.
So could someone who believes that hate music is a result of the artists response to disenfranchisment explain this nonsense. French dancehall artiste??? What is that? what does that look like?
More importantly given the homo friendly culture of France (including its dependents, Martinique, Guadeloupe etc) where is this homophobia coming from?
Mel Smith
October 4 2006, 12:37PM
Why are black people doing this? I am black and I just had to make that statement because we have been treated the lowest of the low. Today, this is what we do to make ourselves feel good? They emigrant to these nations and then spread prejduice? It is already bad enough that right wing French people don't even want them in France! I guess the brainwash religious people think that guy comments come from God. I mean, seriously, do any of you really want to go to the same heaven these people think they are going to?
Regan DuCasse
October 4 2006, 12:42PM
As far as I'm concerned, this is crap. This is what passes for artistic merit?
If all the gay folks dissappeared, or had never existed...then what would these so called artists bitch about?
They ain't the first angry blacks and won't be the last.
Are gay folks the last refuge of the angry and violent?
Are gay folks displacing others from jobs and housing? Disproportionate recipients of welfare?
Is it gay folks who abandon children by the millions to poverty, foster care...abuse?
Do gay folks make up the majority of the incarcerated for violent crimes?
Are gay people the majority of gang members?
WTF?
Where are people's damn priorities?
There's plenty to be angry at.
And it's too damn convenient to bitch that gay people are a legitimate target, or that calling for the deaths or disappearance of gay people is a solution.
This sure explains why the aforementioned problems grow and grow.
Doug Cooper-Spencer
October 4 2006, 12:44PM
We should not only go after the artists, but boycott the media giants that allows this type of nonsense.
Jkid
October 4 2006, 1:21PM
The reason why media industry makes a lot of money selling popularsing dancehall music is that it's a amoral industry.
Although they're controlled by politically-conservative executives who are not governed by morals, they only want money. That's what they care only, the bottom line.
meme
October 4 2006, 1:29PM
Why is Krys so upset with gays? I wonder if he had problems with gays in the past or if he really have some psychological issues. I am not trying to talk about the brothers, but it seems as if his anger is really a longing to be with a man. What do I know! Krus is spending time and energy writing about gay men in his songs, it's too weird. These new fags are a complete mess.
Donald![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
October 4 2006, 2:38PM
At first I thought those were before and after photos! *LOL!*
Blue
October 4 2006, 2:51PM
Wow. All I can say is this sort of thing makes my blood run cold. I hope that his people, agents or whoever are doing something to protect him and keep him safe. Scary. It just shows you music is a lot more impactful than folks think ... even though in an ideal world it shouldn't be.
Patrick
October 4 2006, 2:54PM
An equal opportunity offender! You don't see people like Elton John writing such hateful lyrics, it's so odd...Krys is that much of a threat?
C. Baptiste-Williams
October 4 2006, 3:37PM
Patrick I don't think it is just Krys that is a threat but what he is a part of and what he represents. As someone of Caribbean decent these lyrics and these artist are tarnishing such a beloved musical genre.
We can not allow artists or labels to get away with this. While I believe in the First Amendment I don't think any words should be said to intentionally hurt anyone.
charles
October 4 2006, 3:49PM
Perhaps it's just my eyes, but I thought that photo was a before and after shot.
castiron
October 4 2006, 5:26PM
I agree with Donald. I too thought those pictures were before and after shots. Perhaps the homophobe is angry because he looks at the drag queen and sees himself on many different levels.
Kyon
October 4 2006, 6:29PM
This story kind of touches a place in me because I remember coming out to my father and his stunned reaction followed by:
Si maintenant Kyon tu es un massici? Es tu un femme garcon? Unfortunately homophobia and our general lack of knowledge or willingless to deal with sex and sexuality as people of African Descent is scattered as far and as wide across the Diaspora as we physically have been.
I feel that McDoom can use this to promote greater understanding among us Black Francophones surrounding sexuality within our culture and hopefully be able to get around the fear and hate this song has produced. Once again though if anything be it in La France the US or the English Speaking Carribean it never fails to amaze me how European or American White men and women sit at the tops of these record companies that sow such dissent amongst us and continue to rake in the profits. Maybe Universal France is the company McDoom should really be pissed at. After all they are the ones getting rich off of his fear...
patrick
October 4 2006, 7:08PM
I thought the guy on the right was named Krys, is he that much of a threat to Vincent is what I meant...
The Empress
October 4 2006, 8:52PM
Being young is excusable in some aspects.Children are taught 1 thing until they grow up and learn otherwise. I was taught that homosexuality was wrong. Being a preacher's daughter,I heard it a lot.Children's minds are very impressionable. They usually take the words of an adult as law. I am an adult now and I think otherwise and very differently. Even though as a child I didn't see anything wrong with homosexuality to begin with. Some young adults don't think that way. So to say him being young is not an excuse, I would like to beg to differ. However, Shame on your parents for what you are today but shame on you if you STAY that way! Some people stay the same and some change for the better. IF someone says they think differently done shun them. Just watch. Remember you don't think as you thought when you were younger. How old is this young man? Is he still singing songs like this?
Steve
October 5 2006, 8:29AM
My first thought is that we should take these two and lock them in a room with crusts and water until they each play bottom for the other and do so often enough that they begin to enjoy it.
Unfortunately, that does not get to the root of the problem. If there was no demand, and tacit support, for their songs, they wouldn't be singing them.
Anything for a buck, (if only it were the alternate definition of "buck,")is a destructive force for any minority.
LBM
October 7 2006, 10:46PM
First of all Krys ... SHAME ON YOU! SHAME ON YOUR RECORD LABEL!!
Second of all Krys ... HOW DARE YOU!! Before you criticise/crucify ANYONE - first walk in their shoes (maybe Vincent's Louboutin's!!)
Last of all Krys ... BE "THE MAN" THAT YOU CLAIM TO BE - apologise!!
BE WARNED ... what goes around, comes around!!
Dashawn
October 10 2006, 11:40AM
Why do people sent so much time on homosexuality they need to worry about things that are more important; like Bush getting us killed.
jared
October 10 2006, 10:00PM
Dashawn, they bash gays because they are not secure in thier own manhood, and its the last group that can be bashed and no one cares. Although, Europe has some tough laws agaisnt this sort of thing, not like here where it is allowed and endorsed by the government, so, this so called "singer" had better be careful, next thin he will know is he might be deported, they don't play around with his ilk and that vile trash he spews. And, then there is that silly do-rag, but, thats a whole other thing.
Comment Preview