Honey Singh disowns offensive lyrics, may file defamation suit

The rapper's lawyer said, "Honey Singh wishes to clarify through this notice that he has no connection whatsoever with the said songs. My client has already written to various digital platforms to immediately take down the video/songs...

Rapper Honey Singh, who was forced to cancel his scheduled New Year's Eve show following protests in the backdrop of gangrape incident, on Tuesday sought to wash his hands off the controversy triggered by offensive lyrics in some of his songs. Honey Singh, who has sung for several Bollywood movies, said he had not authored the lyrics that are being attributed to him.

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The lyrics have been termed offensive towards women by activists, who have started an online campaign against Singh. An FIR has also been lodged against the rapper in Lucknow. When contacted Singh's manager Anup Kumar claimed that the Gurgaon show was cancelled not because of the protests but in solidarity with the Delhi gangrape victim.

"We did not cancel the show because of this petition and FIR. We cancelled it in the wake of Delhi gangrape issue. This is not the first concert we are cancelling in Delhi after that horrific incident. We had also cancelled our much publicised December 25 event," Kumar said.

Bristol Hotel, however, disputed Honey Singh's version, saying it was the management and not Singh, who decided to cancel the performance. Singh has also issued a public notice claiming that he is not the author of those lyrics. "Honey Singh wishes to clarify through this notice that he has no connection whatsoever with the said songs. My client has already written to various digital platforms to immediately take down the video/songs and is also considering appropriate legal action for defamation, loss of reputation and violation of privacy," a notice by lawyer Pragyan Pradip Sharma, on behalf of Singh, read.

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Journalist Seema Goswami directly linked the lyrics to violence agaist women to as she wrote, "All those telling us to *ignore* Honey Singh's *rape rap* do remember that this kind of misogyny is what results in violence against women." Nilanjana Roy posted a link to the petition, tweeting: Why women don't want to celebrate the new year with Honey Singh: Neha Kaul's petition...

Renowned journalist and Rude Food columnist Vir Sanghvi called for a strong boycott against the hotel if they didn't called the show off. He wrote on his Twitter wall: For God's sake, Bristol Hotel. Cancel the Honey Singh show. Are you guys in the rape business or the hotel business?

He later added, "If the Bristol does not cancel the Honey Singh show then I would urge every decent Indian to boycott the hotel."Comedian Tanmay Bhat said, "Bringing Honey Singh into this discussion is giving his songs too much dignity. They're offensive to every sensibility and not just women."



What do you think about the drama? Voice your opinion and vote now:

Honey Singh Supporters

However, even as Honey Singh trends on Twitter, not all tweets favour the petition, in fact, many have come out in support of the controversial rapper.

@aadyaaluvs_1D
but thing is senseless.. people can't catch the victim so let us all blame "Honey Singh" ehh, damn you people!

@Righteous_RAAM
You are the one who made Honey singh,morons. You purchase his albums and give him money. HE DO WHAT YOU LIKE. stop criticising the guy

@ameinzahid
I really wouldnt want to see a ban on Honey Singh, not that I listen to his muisc. But then that would be unfair & partisan.

@itsaditya1
I listened this song of Honey Singh way back in my first year of BTech. Why the petition coming now ??

@ameinzahid
I really wouldnt want to see a ban on Honey Singh, not that I listen to his muisc. But then that would be unfair & partisan.@itsaditya1

I listened this song of Honey Singh way back in my first year of BTech. Why the petition coming now ??

@bhibhek

Honey singh also liberated woman if you ask me. He made it okay for girls to drink or smoke in his songs. Somethng that was a male territory

@azanfd
did someone let honey singh know dt suddenly ev1 seems to understnd his lyrics.seems fair,v gt to b hypocratic at least aftr he earnd cr's

@Berges
If you believe Honey Singh is the reason behind the rapes? Lets ban all kinds of American rap music too.?

@samm_sharma
Honey Singh is made a scape goat for this rape case.

@KirtikaChandani
If u ban Honey Singh, then pls ban Ekta Kapoor, Mallika Sherawat, Sunny Leone, Salman khan. They all offend my sensibilities.

However, whether Hotel Bristol takes the action demanded by the petitioners or decides to look the other way and go with the show, remains to be seen.