‘Lizard’ Comment Evokes Vybz Kartel And Gaza Fans’ Anger
Dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel and his Gaza Nation clashed with a follower on Thursday over a comment about ‘Lizard’, the man he was convicted of murdering. The follower had chastised Kartel after he made a post about injustices in Jamaica.
Kartel had made a post calling for justice for Susan Bogle, who was shot in August Town, allegedly by members of the security forces, several days ago, and noted that in addition to seeking justice for American George Floyd, who was killed by policemen in Minnesota, just over a week ago, Jamaicans should remember their own “local injustices as well’.
His comment, however, did not sit well with one follower, “forevercamz,” who instantly upbraided him for apparently, in her estimation, setting double-standards.
“Before you post anyone asking for justice in Jamaica, post Lizard!” she ordered, referencing the killing of Clive Lizard’ Williams, for which Kartel, along with his co-accused Shawn Storm, André St John, and Kahira Jones were found guilty, and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014.
The strident follower also added another jab at Kartel, in response to the Gaza fans’ attack, noting that: “Jamaica’s issue is crime and lack of respect for human life. Black Lives Matter, so don’t kill your own brothers and sisters!”
In a show of exasperation, Kartel then made a swipe at his critic, posting an image of a lizard and asking the question:” Feel better b—-?”
The Fever singer then went on a tirade, in which he complained to his fans that he was still being unfairly treated by those of his own race.
“From 2011 till now a 11,000 + Jamaicans get murdered by gunman, but everybody a watch lizard choo Kartel involved. Dutty badmine black ppl das y unuh na stop dead like dog inna Jamaica and di world!” he wrote.
Kartel then added: “How much ppl dead over di weekend alone??? Including women n children…where is the national outcry? Oh, Kartel no involved so it’s all good,” he posted, along with two laughing emoticons.
Kartel’s Gaza Nation continued to turn out in their numbers, some hurling abuses while others attempted to corroborate what the Calabar High School old boy wrote, even as some sought to explain that he was already being punished and ought not to come under more public pressure.
The lengthy exchange continued with one GAZA nation fan, “allonielb,” reprimanding forevercamz for her stance on the matter, claiming she was treating the artiste with disrespect, and ‘holding preconceived judgments against him’.
“Ppl can change. The whole point of prison is to rehabilitate… Look pon the great Buju. He had to go to jail for some sh*t, but yow, he got out, went home, and was embraced. Here is Vybz Kartel, saying ‘hey as much as we see what happening in the world concerning the injustice of black in America we have it here in Jamaica as well, let’s make a stand for ourselves too’, and you come bout Lizard.”
“You are a part of the problem,” she stated.
“And regardless of what you feel…Vybz Kartel is a huge influence, so for him to speak out for the right thing then you try to put him down for it is ridiculous!” she added.
Seemingly undaunted, forevercamz, who did not address Kartel’s ‘b-tch’ jab, told allonielb that Kartel ought not to be compared with Buju, as, unlike the Gargamel, he had shown no remorse for his actions and was still recording violence-laced music.
“Buju accepted responsibility for what he did and apologized in words and music. Kartel in prison, yet on IG and releasing new songs, but not once has he came out and apologized for his part in the murder or even make a song saying he sorry for his mistakes,” she argued.
“Even if he don’t want to confess bc he still appealing, he can still make music telling people to put down the guns. He could’ve released several songs against crime and violence these past years he in prison, but all we got was more tight p—– and big b—– songs,” she added.
She also took umbrage with what she deemed incessant calls for Kartel’s freedom, not because he was innocent, but because other people were committing crimes and were not being captured. She said Kartel was feigning sympathy for the August Town woman as Jamaica registered more than 1,300 murders last year, and had a surge in domestic murders, yet he remained silent.
“Now that America is fighting for justice he want to throw in fake concern for this lady… Vybz Kartel, use your platform to make music to speak against gun violence and crime in Jamaica to really show Jamaica that you care,” she ordered.