Downsound Entertainment, proprietor of Reggae Sumfest, has labelled dancehall artiste Ishawna’s controversial performance of Equal Rights on the weekend “insulting and demeaning” to dancehall legend Bounty Killer.

During her Sumfest performance, Ishawna had cardboard cutouts of the likenesses of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton and Bounty Killer, on which she simulated various sexually suggestive acts. In relation Bounty Killer, the artiste pretended to have his likeness perform oral sex on her, an act he has publicly made known he is vehemently against.

While noting their commitment to free expression, the Sumfest organisers said they “do not condone performances that denigrate other artistes or individuals”.

They have also noted that they were unaware of the planned performance beforehand and expressed apologies to Bounty Killer over the events that took place on Night One of the festival.

Bounty Killer, who’s given name is Rodney Price, has repeatedly stated his displeasure with the song Equal Rights since it was released in 2017.

Reacting on social media, Bounty Killer lashed out angrily at Ishawna’s use of his image during her performance.

He said: “We Jamaicans likes to take bad things and make jokes but when bad things happens do we find it funny? Thanks to growth and maturity, so at this age I only Act and not React. Jamaicans y’all says how we rate the general for his contributions to the poor and the development of other artiste etc. Then y’ll sat there laughing how a little fly b-tty pissen tail dancehall mattress witch styled me right here a Jamaica who claimed them love and rate me.   That’s why I had ntn to say I leave y’all to God and Time away with my ignorance and welcome my intellect just watch tha style yah👈🏿

“Desperation has one Destination downward spiral 🌀.”

Donna Hope, PhD, professor of culture, gender and society at the Institute of Caribbean Studies,
Faculty of Humanities and Education at the University of the West Indies, Mona, who was also present at the show, told Our Today that Ishawna’s performance was “part of the theatrics of dancehall that was taken out of context”.

Hope noted that the crowd was simply enjoying the performance and would have expected Bounty Killer to respond lyrically.

She said she believed this was the first time such theatrics around oral sex had been done on a dancehall stage, while noting that Bounty Killer has previously “threatened” to take action if Ishawna performed the song at shows where he was also scheduled to take the stage.

Bounty Killer performed on Night Two of Reggae Sumfest, which was a tribute to veteran producer Dave Kelly, a frequent collaborator of the legendary dancehall artiste.