Billboard Publicity Wire delivers breaking music and entertainment news to millions of journalists, bloggers and fans through e-mail, search engines and leading music sites like Billboard.biz. Note: This service is not associated with Billboard editorial.
Interscope Artist, M.I.A, Creates Outrage Regarding Comments on Tavis Smiley Show
Grammy nominated artist, Maya Arulpragasm otherwise known as M.I.A, has received heavy criticism from the Sri Lankan community for her comments made in an interview on the Tavis Smiley Show on January 28, 2009.
Los Angeles, CA (Billboard Publicity Wire) February 21, 2009 -- M.I.A's comments on the Tavis Smiley show on January 28, 2009 had the Sri Lankan community in an "outrage" as stated by the Sri Lankan Patriot Group of Los Angeles. Having been criticized for her public support of the organization, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which has been labeled a terrorist group by the FBI. M.I.A. renewed controversy with her most recent interview on Tavis Smiley, by saying there is a "systematic genocide" in Sri Lanka. This resulted in a public statement by the Sri Lankan government countering her claims on Tavis Smiley with the Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka, Dr. Palitha Kohona. In the February 19, 2009 interview Dr. Kohona is quoted as saying, "I'm sorry...I think she is misinformed and it's best that she stay with what she's good at, which is music - not politics."
CHILD AT MIA RALLY
The Grammy nominated M.I.A. has started to see a backlash from the Worldwide Sri Lankan Community. The Sri Lankan Patriot Group of Los Angeles organized a 3-Hour Protest Rally at the Staples Center at the Grammy's on February 8th, 2009 causing quite a stir on the music industry's biggest night. The Sri Lankan Patriot Group rallied against M.I.A regarding her comments of "genocide" in their country of Sri Lanka. "M.I.A. should use her fame to promote peace in Sri Lanka and not tell lies about our country. M.I.A does not represent Tamil people nor the views of the Sri Lankan public", says an unnamed member of the Patriot Group.
M.I.A. has denied claims of supporting the terrorist group, The LTTE, though she named her first album "Arular" after her father, whom she admittedly stated was a member of the LTTE group EROS. M.I.A. was denied entry into the United States in 2006 for her violent and politically charged lyrics such as the song "Sunshowers" (which was banned from MTV) where she sympathizes with suicide bombers. M.I.A. has risen to fame, yet her imagry suggests she supports the terrorist group, The LTTE, as pointed out by International Recording Artist DeLon in his 2008 YouTube video DeLon-MIA Exposed.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is branded by 32 countries as a terrorist group including the United States. The LTTE is labeled as the pioneer of the suicide bomb. They have killed two world leaders, recruited child soldiers and according to Dr. Kohona have been using Tamil civilians as "Human Shields." M.I.A.'s claims and alleged connection to the LTTE come as she gives birth to her first child, and prepares to marry Ben Brewer the son of Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr.
###
Post Comment: Trackback URL: http://billboard.prweb.com/pingpr.php/RW1wdC1DcmFzLUluc2UtTWFnbi1FbXB0LUNvdXAtWmVybw==
Billboard Publicity Wire is powered by PRWeb®, A Vocus Company.
If you have any questions regarding information in these press releases, please contact
the company listed in the press release (see "Contact Information" in the right hand navigation panel).
Please do not contact Billboard or PRWeb®, as we will be unable
to assist you with your inquiry.
Billboard and PRWeb® disclaim responsibility for all content contained in these releases.
The products and services presented in this press release are not endorsed by Billboard.
Our complete disclaimer appears here.
Billboard Publicity Wire and PRWeb® disclaim all responsibility for content contained within this press release.
If you have any questions regarding information contained in this press release, please contact the company listed
in the press release. Do not contact Billboard Publicity Wire or PRWeb®, as we will be unable
to assist you with your inquiry.
Share The News
Submit this press release easily to any of these major bookmarking and social media sites.