A petition that aims to have Queens-based chef-turned-rapper Action Bronson removed as a NXNE headliner at Yonge & Dundas Square is quickly gaining momentum, logging 175 signatures at the time of publication. In an appeal addressed to NXNE, Now Magazine, Vans Footwear, and the City of Toronto, petitioner Erica Shiner calls out Bronson’s “violent misogyny,” citing the song “Consensual Rape” as an example of why the rapper should not be allowed to perform at a sponsored event in an open, outdoor public space:
“Then dig your shorty out ‘cause 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.”
The petition doesn’t necessarily ask for Action Bronson’s festival appearance to be canceled altogether—it seeks “to have this artist removed from the line-up of this show, on the grounds that he produces hate speech.” It’s not clear whether or not a venue change would appease those in support of the petition, or if they’re calling for his removal from the NXNE schedule entirely.
Check out the song in question below, and if you agree, feel free to add your name to the petition here.
UPDATE (5/29/2015): NXNE has officially canceled Action Bronson's headlining performance at Yonge & Dundas Square. They have extended an invitation to have him perform at another indoor, ticketed venue during the festival, but no details have been confirmed. Read the statement below:
"We at Northby Northeast (NXNE) are very proud of our 20 plus years relationship with the people of the City of Toronto. And for almost 10 years we’ve shared Yonge-Dundas Square with you to present free, all ages shows open to the public. YDS is the city’s space and as such we are obliged to listen to how the city and community want it used. A significant number of Torontonians have indicated their desire to have Action Bronson not perform at the Square. As annual guests in this space we feel we must accede to the strong wishes of the community and honour their input.
As a result, we will not be presenting Action Bronson at Yonge-Dundas Square but, hopefully we will still be presenting Action Bronson as part of Northby. We remain fundamentally committed to presenting this artist on a Toronto stage. 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. When artistic expression is limited, freedom and the evolution of ideas is often the casualty.
Hopefully, Action Bronson will accept our invitation to play at another, ticketed venue in the city so the public can decide for themselves if his work has merit. We booked Bronson, in part, because of his latest excellent disc, Mr. Wonderful.
We hope that this series of events does not foster some type of artistic chill in Toronto and its public spaces. Yonge-Dundas Square must remain a dynamic place where many viewpoints are expressed not just culturally but also at political events and rallies staged there.
We are heartened by the community engagement that has been taking place around this YDS show. This debate continues an important conversation about violence against women and its depiction in art and culture that is long overdue. We salute all of those who fight this battle and we would encourage everyone who has signed the petition or been engaged by this conversation to commit themselves personally to continuing the fight against violence against women. We at Northby pledge to continue being part of this discussion with the intent to help act as agents of change.
Sincerely,
The Directors of North by Northeast"
