Bogdanovich apologises to Bounty for Ishawna’s Sumfest performance
In a statement on Monday, Josef Bogdanovich, chairman of Downsound Entertainment, apologised to dancehall veteran Bounty Killer for aspects of Ishawna’s performance many have since dubbed disrespectful.
Ishawna, while singing her controversial hit, Equal Rights, straddled a life-sized cutout of the deejay.
Bogdanovich in the statement disavowed all prior knowledge of Ishawna’s performance. He then went on to admit that certain “words and images” used by Ishawna were “insulting and demeaning” and expressed that Sumfest “does not condone performances that insult or denigrate other artistes or individuals.”
“This sort of behaviour is strictly prohibited under Sumfest’s policy and the agreements between Downsound and our artistes,” Bogdanovich expressed, stating that while event organisers cannot control what an act does on stage, Ishawna’s performance was inexcusable.
“As a practical matter, we can’t control what an artiste does when they get onstage. In this case, we had no advance knowledge as to what was to take place. The behaviour was disrespectful and inexcusable and for that we sincerely apologise to Bounty Killer for any offence caused,” the release continued.
Bogdanovich added that they love and respect Bounty Killer, given name Rodney Pryce, on a personal and professional level and look forward to hosting him again at Reggae Sumfest.
On Monday, Bounty Killer responded to Ishawna’s Sumfest stint. In a post on Instagram, the five-star general labelled Ishawna, among other things, a mattress and a witch
READ: Bounty Killer responds to Ishawna’s Sumfest performance
Bounty Killer and Ishawna have had a strained relationship since the release of the female singer’s racy ‘Equal Rights’ single which was thoroughly condemned by Bounty Killer when it was first released in 2017. The Warlord had promised to ‘bomb rush’ her at a concert in Portland h where they were both billed to perform that year. The Killer even famously refused to use the same microphone that Ishawna had used.
RELATED STORY: #Sumfest2022: Bounty walks out as Ishawna demands Equal Rights
