Pamputtae To Headline Toronto Pride 2023 LGBTQ Festival In June
Pamputtae has announced that she will perform at the upcoming Toronto Pride 2023 LGBTQ festival in June.
Her announcement comes almost a year after Queen of Dancehall, Spice, headlined the event, sparking a firestorm between herself, Sizzla Kalonji and Foota Hype.
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it’s dressed in coverall and looks like work. With that being said I’ll be performing live at #PrideToronto June 24th, 2023,” the Bedroom Bacchanal artiste noted on Instagram on Tuesday, where she shared the poster announcing her impending appearance at the event.
On the Toronto Pride’s Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages, the promotional post of Pamputtae was also shared and carried the caption: “Calling all di fluffy gyal dem to the front, Dancehall queen Pamputtae will be headlining Blocko After Dark Saturday June 24th starting at 11pm.”
In November 2021 when Spice announced that she would headline the Toronto Pride 2022 event, Foota Hype had expressed his love for her, but said he was disappointed that she was headlining the show, and urged her to return whatever monies she had collected from the LGBTQ group.
The Dark Knight producer had gone on to say that he was aware that, unlike her light-skinned peer Shenseea, Spice was not being given the respect she deserved internationally, but argued that performing at the event, would not further her bid for ascension.
Sizzla had also taken to Instagram where he contended that “righteousness, Reggae and homosexuality do not go together” as he urged her to: “don’t do this show”.
Spice had gone on to do the show in June, performing for more than an hour onstage and even going down into the crowd.
At the time, Pride Toronto organiser, the Jamaican-born Dr. Andrew B. Campbell, who was tasked with introducing Spice to the stage, had stated that having Spice on stage was a “Political Statement” and “more than just entertainment” as “the Queen of Dancehall was “standing in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community”.
“It’s a political statement. It is saying to Dancehall and deejays and artists, who are homophobic, that we are not standing for homophobia and transphobia, anymore,” he had emphasized.
For her part, during her performance, Spice had told the LGBTQ members that “even if I was the only one from Jamaica to stand my grounds and stand up as a black woman to fight for my fans, to fight for what I believe in, to fight for all a you…”
On Pamputtae’s Instagram page there was a flurry of congratulations from many of her fans. However, there were several who proffered rebukes of the God and Time artist.
“I love you and with the love of Christ, I encourage you to really pray on this decision and see if it glorifies God or glorifies Satan. We can only choose one Master. 🙏🏾” one woman said, while one man stated: “If (you) watch Charlie Sloth and Seani B show, you can see how she look like a puppy’ frightened, as someone who started highly in how humans acts and behaved you can tell they will do anything for fame and money. Jamaicans is not the same no more. Sorry for our kids future 🔥.”
“@pamputtae, Yo that’s why we not buying no more of your music u guys sell out we culture just cause of money… that is no fucking opportunity and u still not going to get big fool, if that’s what you’re looking for,” another man added.
One woman though, warned that Pamputtae should pay Foota Hype no mind if he objects publicly to her impending performance.
“Mi love ❤️ yuh @pamputtae but Foota Hype, he nah go dun … mi feel him drudgement … mighty God , go with the backlashes 👏,” she advised.
However, another man poured scorn on the Fletchers Land native, suggesting that she was being hypocritical as she, according to him was a long-time homophobe.
“When did you become an ally? Pamputtae you nuh homophobic lady. I checked 👀. Anyways I hope that now when LGBT 🏳️🌈 issues come up in Jamaica you use your platform to advocate for the community,” he stated sarcastically.
In November 2012, Pamputtae had complained to The Star tabloid, that some websites were misleading the public about her sexual orientation, insisting that she was heterosexual and not interested in same-sex dalliances.
In distancing herself from allegations that she was gay, Pamputtae had said one website had circulated a misleading picture of her friend giving her a congratulatory hug and kiss for being pregnant, during a birthday party.
“But because of how the picture tek, it looks misleading to the public. Then a certain website put out a story to add negativity to the picture. It’s damaging to my life, so I want people to know it is nothing like that,” she had told The Star.
Pamputtae had also said that the woman who had been her best friend for many years, was equally upset.
“She is a good friend. Maybe my career wouldn’t even be where it is today if it wasn’t her because she is always supportive. Some people wey a tarnish mi name… when unno see real gay people unno nuh sey nothing bout it … so stop tarnishing my name and character. I don’t have a clue what you are talking about… A me sey ride it and sidung pon it, suh a straight man to mi,” she had said.