Tyler Perry faces backlash from Grenadians over homophobia remarks

In response to a statement made by American actor and director Tyler Perry, numerous Grenadians took to social media this week to contest the portrayal of their nation as one plagued by homophobia and criminal activity

Perry had recently offered a $100,000 reward for information regarding the murder of Josiah ‘Jonty’ Robinson Robinson, a resident of Beaulieu, St George, was discovered deceased on BBC Beach on June 18, 2023

The call to action from Perry occurred after he spoke with Yvette Noel-Schure, a Grenadian publicist and intimate friend to Jonty, who had served as a maternal figure in his life

Tyler Perry’s controversial remarks

Perry shared his heartbreak with his Instagram audience

“A few days ago I got an extremely heartbreaking phone call from my friend, Yvette Noel-Schure Through her tears and grief she was telling me that in her home country of

Grenada, a young man that was like a son to her was murdered My soul ached as she shared that he was a young, gifted singer who was murdered because he was gay,” Perry wrote The actor-director drew parallels between Jonty’s death and other instances of violence

“My mind immediately went to Mathew Shepard, and all the other victims of racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, xenophobic, senseless violence This kid was 24, how is this ok? His mother is devastated,” he continued The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) has since dispelled allegations that Robinson’s murder was a hate crime Autopsy reports indicate that Robinson was strangled before his body was discarded into the sea Locals, while acknowledging the gravity of the crime, called on Perry and others to withhold judgment and allow the police investigation to proceed before casting their homeland in a negative light

They argued that such accusations could jeopardize the tranquil island’s tourism-reliant economy

Some of the comments on Perry’s post expressed concern over this hastily drawn portrait of their nation

One individual commented expressing that murder over sexual orientation is not a common occurrence in Grenada, adding that such a heinous act is not comparable to practices in countries like Afghanistan, Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, and others

Many echoed these sentiments, criticizing Perry for prematurely implying a hate crime in an ongoing investigation with no concrete evidence

Despite the predominant defense of Grenada’s reputation, some users spotlighted the obstacles faced by queer individuals

One user noted that Jonty and others from the queer community have been ridiculed when reporting violence against them

Wyclef Jean to host rst Caribbean Music Awards in Brooklyn

Haitian musician Wyclef Jean is preparing to host the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards, a celebration of diverse Caribbean music genres slated for August 31 at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn

Jean shared his enthusiasm for the groundbreaking event during a recent interview on NBC’s Today Show

He highlighted the immense success of the Verzuz episode from May 2020, which showcased Caribbean artistes Bounty Killer and Beenie Man

He attributed this episode as an indicator of the significant potential the awards show can have

“It reminded us how much we love the Caribbean,” he said “For me, what’s exciting is Caribbean culture is shared, whether it’s fashion or [music] ”

Jean, experienced with hosting award shows, led the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards in Stockholm

He marked the event with a grand entry on an elephant, and he expressed a similar desire for an equally dramatic introduction at the Caribbean Music Awards

The 53-year-old renowned rapper and musician, a recipient of three Grammy awards, is no stranger to musical acclaim

His accolades include two Grammy awards for his contribution to the Fugees’ 1996 album The Score, and another as a co-producer of Santana’s Supernatural, which seized the 1999 Album of the Year award

Jean also earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2005 for co-writing the song “Million

Voices” for the film Hotel Rwanda

The Caribbean Music Awards boasts a broad spectrum of 26 categories, covering a variety of music genres such as reggae, dancehall, soca, kompa, and zouk

The event will also honor Trinidadian soca singer, record producer, and songwriter Machel Montano,48, with a lifetime achievement award

Montano climbed to the top of Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart in 2019 with his album G O A T