PATRICK Henry, manager for dancehall deejay I Wayne, says the artiste is being misquoted by people protesting his inclusion in the line-up for the Edmonton Reggae Festival in Canada on September 5.

“They have incorrectly interpreted a line from I-Wayne’s song Burn Down Sodom. In the song he says: ‘Burn fake things’ but his lyrics have been misquoted to mean ‘burn fags’ by the gay rights groups,” Henry told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Earlier this week, owners of 95.7 Cruz FM and Hot 107 radio stations withdrew sponsorship of the festival due to the inclusion of headliners I Wayne, Queen Ifrica and Capleton. The artistes’ previous homophobic statements were cited as the reason.

Henry said he hasn’t heard anything official from the organisers and, as a result, his artiste is still booked for the festival.

I Wayne is known for his hit songs Living in Love and Can’t Satisfy Her.

John Fortuna, president of the Edmonton Reggae Festival, issued a statement in light of the concerns.

“All artistes contracted for the event have been briefed on the festival’s expectations, noting that the event does not condone any type of hate or discrimination against any person, community or group,” Fortuna’s statement read.

Several efforts to contact Capleton and Queen Ifrica were unsuccessful.