In what was probably the best performance of Reggae Sumfest 2019, Dalton Harris declared himself to be “Jamaica’s biggest regret.” The singer made the statement because neither the Jamaican people nor the Jamaican government embraced the singer the way the entire island embraced Tessanne Chin when she won The Voice competition in the United States.
Harris was shunned by Jamaicans because of rumors that swirl that he was a homosexual after pictures of him sitting in another man’s lap went viral on social media.
The singer took the time to address this rumor during his performance and letting the Sumfest crowd know that he would never sell his soul, “not even for a million dollars.
Jamaica, especially the government and the tourist board, has a history of embracing Jamaicans who excel on foreign soil as was evident with Bob Marley, Usain Bolt, Tessanne Chin, Kaci Fennell and numerous others. The Jamaican people do this out of pride and patriotism but the government does it in order to capitalize off their accomplishment by way of tourism. However, with Dalton Harris, the entertainer was kept at arm’s length because of the island’s disdain for homosexuality. There were even some who voiced their opinions that Harris should not have been invited to Reggae Sumfest.
What is strange about the way Jamaicans treat Harris is the fact that almost the entire island is currently screaming for convicted murderer, Vybz Kartel, to be released from prison. Buju Banton who was incarcerated in an American prison for drug charges was given a hero’s welcome by the people of Jamaica when he was finally released.
So you could be convicted for murder or convicted on drug charges and Jamaicans will forgive you. However, if you ever sit in another man’s lap, even if you are not gay, you have committed the ultimate sin and will never be forgiven.
Whether Jamaica will really come to regret the way they treated Dalton Harris remains to be seen, but if his performance at Reggae Sumfest is any indication, they definitely will.
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