Tyrese Gibson refuses to apologise to radio bosses
Tyrese Gibson is adamant he will not be apologising for comments he made during a radio interview in Delaware in an effort to reverse a ban on his music.
The Transformers star was thrown out of a live show on WJKS KISS 101.7 last week after making a passionate speech urging local officials to ban 'liquor banks' near schools.
Radio bosses took offence to the outburst, considering it to be an attack on state laws and subsequently banned Gibson's music.
Station owner Tony Quartarone accused the star of disrespecting listeneres and insisting his music would be banned until the singer gave them an apology.
The defiant singer says that he is planning no such thing.
He tells BlogTalkRadio.com: "My position won't change... He banned my music and this is exactly why a lot of artists don't speak on serious issues that are going on in the community, because we can't survive without radio supporting our music. This is why artists come to radio stations and keep things generic: 'Hey, buy my new album,' and then they leave.
"I got an album coming out in less than 30 days and to have my music banned from a radio station because I'm walking in my purpose and speaking my truth, I mean that's just crazy. Let's just keep people ignorant. We don't want anybody on the mic speaking the truth!"
Gibson still stands by what he said on air: "I had just left an elementary school (after) speaking to some kids. I went across the street to try and get a Pepsi or something... (and) there was a liquor bank. I got on the air talking about the album and then I transitioned because it was fresh in my mind: 'Man, I went to speak to these kids and there was a liquor bank across the street from this school. I got a problem with that (sic).'
"I got a problem with the personalities and the energy that liquor stores attract. Not everybody's crazy and not everybody's over the top; some folks are able to hold their liquor, but a lot of folks can't and this type of energy should not be that close to a junior high/elementary school.
"This is not just a Delaware issue. I don't want anyone to think I'm targeting Delaware... I wrote a book, How To Get Out Of Your Own Way, and... I talk about the fact that my mother suffered from being an alcoholic. Twenty-seven years of my mother drinking literally killed a lot of my childhood, so alcohol is a very sensitive topic for me.
"So, for a liquor bank to be that close to a school, of all people in the world that could've seen that and been affected by it, it's gonna be me."
Tagged in Tyrese Gibson