Capitalizing on the Underage Simulated Stage Rape Controversy
Akon is like Jesus, will take all the blame from you.
By Elena Gorgan, Entertainment News Editor
10th of August 2007, 12:05 GMT
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Senegalese-born Akon is one of the most known faces in the music industry - his collaborations include both famous rappers and R&B singers, his clothing line is selling better than other celebrity created or endorsed brands and his songs always top all the national and international charts. In short, Akon is someone, with a capital S! But that doesn't mean that he's been a stranger to controversy - in fact, just a couple of months ago, an incident posted on the Internet almost cost him his career. And he's here now to tell us all about it.
Back in April 2007, Akon was in Port of Spain, at the Zen club, to perform for his fans. Only that, instead of entertaining them with his dance moves and raunchy lyrics, he took it one step further and treated them to a special, live simulated stage rape by dry-humping a girl. Later on, it turned out that the girl he used as his own personal blow-up doll (after conning her into believing she was taking part in some dance competition) was only 14 years old and the daughter of a prominent pastor.
The scandal that ensued was huge, Akon was targeted by the entire media, the police opened an investigation at the request of the Prime Minister, the singer lost most of his sponsors and even Gwen Stefani's tour (of which Akon was a part) was put in danger because of his irresponsible act. Pressured from all sides, the singer had no other choice but to issue an apology, stating very matter-of-factly that, first, he couldn't have known the girl was underage because the club was for over-18 and, secondly, that she gave her consent when she got up on that stage.
These being said, you know now what to expect from Akon's latest single and video 'Sorry, Blame It On Me'. I will give you that: I started watching this with a very open mind, based on the fact that even those who do wrong (to some extent or another) in their personal life can still do perfectly fine as artists. And, then, it hit me: this video is not about a mother who has a son in jail, or about a wife who never sees her baby's daddy at home, or about some teenager who sneaks out of her parents' house to go clubbing - this is about all of the above and about Akon assuming responsibility for their irresponsible and immature actions! He's like Jesus, you know, only better.
Granted, the track itself (which will be included on the August re-issue of 'Konvicted') is pretty catchy but, by the time it gets to the part in which Akon practically plays the poor defenseless innocent victim, you simply know that you heard more than enough. In fact, towards the end, Akon gets to the point of the whole single and accompanying video and it goes something like this: 'I'm sorry for the hand that she was dealt/ For the embarrassment that she felt/ Just a little young girl trying to have fun/ Her daddy should never let her out that young/ I'm sorry for Club Zen getting shut down/ I hope they manage better next time around/ How was I to know she was underage/ In a 21 and older club they say/ Why doesn't anybody wanna take blame/ Verizon backed out disgracing my name/ I'm just a singer trying to entertain'.
And that's not all: he even goes on to say that, although he's not guilty of anything in particular and especially about all that stage rape controversy, he WILL take all the blame. Because he loves his fans like that. And because he's that generous - the Jesus-like gestures are probably meant to make us really believe that he's for reals. By the time the video ends, you kinda begin to feel sorry that you were willing to give it a chance and, in my case, that I even considered it a hot idea.
No matter what he did or did not do, Akon has a great voice that could easily qualify him as a genuine artist in a manufactured pop culture where lip-syncing rules. Then why, we ask, does he feel the need to resort to such cheap ways of justification when he shouldn't? Isn't this only making things worse? Anyway, you judge for yourselves and don't let me tell you what to think. Below is the video for the single and, underneath it, a segment showing Akon dry-humping the 14-year-old girl on stage at Zen.
Note: the second video contains offensive language and equally shocking footage. Do not watch if you're easily upset, under 18 or at work.
He's a lowlife cockroach making money on other's ignorance. He ain't even a man (squeaky girlfriend voice enough clue for you?) to admit that what he did was wrong.
It's not his fault that his way of entertaining is stage raping fans, he's just entertaining the crowd. Yeah, right...Akon, is a wipe-ass artist.
Comment #1.1 by: Brady on 11 Jul 2008, 06:04 GMT
While I appreciate Akon's music for a number of reasons I don't justify what went down that night...........However, Why was a 14 year old girl in an 18 or 21 (depending upon who you ask) club? I think Akon simply failed to properly qualify his participant. Genuine apology or not the guy makes great music that people of many cultures, genders, and status' enjoy. Since I write this a while after the event I can safely say it hasn't ruined his career. Hopefully he has learned from the mistake. Most importantly people should learn to analyze a situation before making judgement.
