Akon has a song called Sexy Chick. In the video, which had no problem ripping off the concept from The Hangover (so much for originality), he is "performing" while a host of bikini-clad women gyrate to his song. At one point the women are dancing in front of a statue of Buddha.
Now here is the controversy and the duplicity.
The women dancing in front of the Buddha in that particular attire (or lack thereof) is an offense to Buddhists. In Sri Lanka it's such a big deal that the government there denied him a visa to the country. This of course impedes his ability to perform a concert in that country. In addition people in that country are protesting and throwing rocks at the offices of his promoter.
All of this has affected the 'entertainer'. He has stated
"I myself am a spiritual man, so I can understand why they are offended," the singer added. "But violence is never the answer and I am disheartened."
Spiritual? What spirituality appreciates objectifying women, and being so oblivious to other religions that a roughly 10-foot symbol of a major world religion is ignored? Seriously the statue of Buddha in question is 10-feet at least, and a centerpiece of the area most of the video takes place in. How did he miss it? Especially if he is so spiritual and understanding? Or did the money he hoped the video would make him block out that spirituality?
And as to his comment about violence, this is Akon right? The same guy that took a 15 year old kid from the middle of a crowd of fans onto his stage, and then threw the kid off the stage. The video of that event was a major component in his trial, that he plead guilty to.
So it seems that violence is the answer, IF it's done by Akon.
I'm not a Buddhist, nor spiritual. But at least I'm not a hypocrit that's trying to say anything in order to make another buck.
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