By Yasmine Peru – STAR Writer

• Photo

Eek-A-Mouse—

Despite the appearance of a controversial video which would certainly suggest that he has embraced the gay lifestyle, veteran reggae and dancehall artiste Eek-A-Mouse is emphasizing that he has not.

However, he says that he is using the video as a way of apologising for all the homophobic artistes in Jamaica.

“Gay!” he said with a loud laugh. “No man, me a gallis. As a matter of fact, the more gay man you have, the more woman fi we straight man.”

In the video, which surfaced yesterday, Eek-A-Mouse is seen waving a rainbow-colored, gay pride flag and singing a ditty which speaks to love.

This behavior left many persons to speculate that the Jamaican entertainer had ‘come out of the closet’ and is no longer hiding his sexuality.

But Eek-A-Mouse told THE STAR that it is simply a case of him “showing love for everybody, including those who have chosen a different lifestyle.”

“I am bringing back the love in reggae music. And I am showing the world that me nuh have no fear,” said the singer, who made his acting debut in the 1991 gangster movie, New Jack City. “A lot of gay people love and support reggae music. I go to Brazil and the promoter is the prettiest girl you could ever see. She looks like Miss World, but when you check it out, she’s a man.”

The Schizophrenic artiste stated that gays, lesbians and transgender people are all part of the human race.

“As Bob Marley say, ‘ Every man have a right to decide his own destiny‘. Gay and lesbian people are very influential and have the money to spend. Them say that Jamaicans are homophobic, but I am showing them that I am not. A lot of them (members of the LGBTQ community) come to my concerts,” he told THE STAR

But why would Eek-A-Mouse, whose given name is Ripton Hylton, choose now to dress in drag and make a spectacle of himself online?

The artiste made mention of an upcoming concert at the Geneva Arena in Switzerland, which will see him sharing stage with headliner Buju Banton, as well as Etana, Richie Spice, and Major Mackerel.

“Buju Banton a di biggest thing right now. But Buju had to take down him Boom Bye Bye song off the Internet. Buju create history, and I will be performing with him on July 31. It will be a big show,” he said. “I am apologizing for all the homophobic artistes in Jamaica.”

Via social media, Buju recently reiterated that he has distanced himself from the views expressed in the infamous song that was recorded.

He has not performed the song since 2007, when he signed the Reggae Compassionate Act. The act was drafted in 2007 as part of the Stop Murder Music campaign, a human-rights groups coalition which advocates for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.