Akon apologizes for dirty dance onstage By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer




NEW YORK - Akon, under fire for doing a sexually explicit dance onstage with a 14-year-old girl, has offered an apology to the teen and anyone else who was offended by the display.

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Akon, whose hits include "Don't Matter," "I Wanna Love You" with Snoop Dogg and "Smack That" with Eminem, was videotaped simulating sex with a girl invited onstage as part of his act during an April 12 concert in Trinidad. After the video was circulated widely on the Internet, it was revealed that she was 14.

Since the incident, Verizon has pulled out as a sponsor of his tour with Gwen Stefani, for whom he wrote the hit "The Sweet Escape."

In a statement released Wednesday to The Associated Press, Akon, 34, said he was sorry for the incident but also said he didn't know the girl was underage.

"I want to sincerely apologize for the embarrassment and any pain I've caused to the young woman who joined me onstage, her family and the Trinidad community for the events at my concert," Akon said.

"It was never my intention to embarrass or take advantage of my fans in any way, especially those under the age of 18. That is why we tried to make sure that the club did not admit anyone under 18 in the audience," he said. "Somehow, that standard was not met."

Akon's latest album, "Konvicted," has sold more than 1 million copies in the United States.

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On the Net:

Akon:

http://www.akononline.com

does it really make any difference though if she's 14, 16 or even 18?

i'd say that video looked like it would be a traumatic experience for
anyone...

Whatever: he is prob saying sorry cause his a$$ got caught!

IstenSzek said:

No it doesn't!

IstenSzek said:

ain't that the true. he treated her like a damn animal

purplecam said:

I feelt sick seeing him treat someone that way. Hes should go to jail. Hasn't he got 4 wives, I wonder if treats them with respect.

it's funny the type of response you get from artists when you hurt them in their pockets....

IstenSzek said:

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYIN!!! Check the other thread, people keep on blaming the girl for being in the club That's some stank shit to do to ANY WOMAN, but people don't wanna see that for some reason

Ok, I totally understand in the biz and beyond peeps lie about their age, however, this is serious spacing.. lol. Is the guy, 25 or 34? Not that it matters but good lawd!

http://www.comcast.net/en...h=itn_akon
Verizon really didn't want to see Akon "Smack That."

The communications company scrapped its partnership with the 25-year-old rapper Friday after a video was released that shows him simulating sex onstage with an underage girl during an Apr.12 concert in Trinidad.

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Akon apologizes for dirty dance onstage By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer

In a statement released Wednesday to The Associated Press, Akon, 34, said he was sorry for the incident but also said he didn't know the girl was underage.

IstenSzek said:

That's because that dance is probaly not a part of your culture... It does have a name
it's called the Dutty Wine as in (Dirty)

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ed&search=


http://www.youtube.com/wa...eLm-M&NR=1

Here's a young girl doing it on school in the cafeteria minus the guy .... There's other that you can watch to see what it is Akon and the young lady was doing... just do a youtube search on Dutty wine contest or Dutty wine dancing, because I'm now at work some of the more graphic examples of the dance are restricted.. and the people you will see doing this are young teens and adults..
I see them doing this at almost every club here in NYC that has a Reggae/Dancehall room
[Edited 5/10/07 6:54am]
[Edited 5/10/07 7:42am]

deepblitz said:

i believe he's early 30 thirtyish...

missfee said:

Too little too late. Also notice that his apology is focused mostly on the girl's age, not the fact that he was dragging her around like a rag doll. Apparently it's trendy to dance like that, but it doesn't make it right.
[Edited 5/10/07 11:51am]

BlaqueKnight said:

You should see the video.

UCantHavaDaMango said:

It is... I'm not a fan of the dance just was suprised that many of you by your reaction had never seen people carry on like that... when they start dancing like that it is usually 2 people in the middle surrounded by a crowd cheering them on... that's the time i make my way to the bar

UCantHavaDaMango said:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1rnod_akon-actin-a-fool
DAMN! Oh, I see now.
I think "molested" is a strong word that insinuates unwillingness on someone's part. That did not appear to be the case. Honestly, she shouldn't have even been on stage. That being said, I believe an age check is in order whenever dealing with a younger crowd. I.D. checks are in order. Outside of that, I don't see a problem with it. Roger Troutman used to always pull up "heavy-set" women out of the audience and bury his face between her legs during his "skits" in some of his songs. Of course, this was at venues that were 21 and over. Akon shouldn't be clowning like that at all ages shows. that's why his ass is in trouble now!
Now if they can only catch that annoying ass T-Pain, they can have a two-4-one and put them both down for the count.

BlaqueKnight said:

she was a willing participant... I think some orgers are put off by it because they don't dance like that (nor do i) but i don't see anything wrong with it.. how many singers have brought females up on the stage on beds and have simulated having sex with that person.

missmad said:

that's exaclty what i was thinking. his apology is not sncere to me. why didn't he apologize before they fired him??

The only thing he should apologize for is being Ignorant! Not for not knowing her age, but for bringing someone up on stage without them signing a waiver, its PERFORMERS 101!, if you are going to have contact with someone you need to protect your ass from a lawsuit, i mean she can say anything at this point, she can say Akon beat her ass up and hes screwed because its word against word. Everyone that does this in their show, whether is Christina Aguilera strapping a guy to a chair or Beyonce or MYA giving a lapdance, they pick the person before the show and the person signs a waiver, Though Akon was just dancing with someone, if you are physically touching someone, you are liable, dont apologize, just do your homework next time.

^ That's smart. Anyone can cry sexual harrassment.
[Edited 5/10/07 16:19pm]

UCantHavaDaMango said:

I mean also think of PRINCE shows, i know we've all seen tons of them, and when he brings ladies up to dance, (though they havent signed anything) he also does not touch them, hes not grinding on them in front of 20,000 witnesses with camera phones!

lastdecember said:

bboy87 said:

See there! He didn't know that woman was an underage teen. How could any man or teen boy really tell when some of these teen girls do an excellent job looking like grown women?!?

TonyVanDam said:

If they check their I.D.s before they let them on stage.

banks said:

Exclude the head swinging, THAT looks almost like some of the dances that the teens used to do in New Orleans during the early 90's. They called it P-Popping (The P stands for "pussy").
[Edited 5/10/07 16:48pm]

BlaqueKnight said:

http://www.prince.org/msg/8/226516

As I stated in the other thread yesterday, one of 3 possiblities that girl could have made it in the club is if she was using a fake I.D.