PITTSBURGH — The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, one of the region's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations, announced Monday that Iggy Azalea had cancelled her performance at this weekend’s Pride in the Street event.
Azalea was scheduled to headline the concert/fundraiser that will be held Saturday on Liberty Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh.
"We are working on new entertainment, which we hope to announce shortly,” the foundation said in a press release.
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The Delta Foundation faced criticism after choosing Azalea to headline the celebration because the Australian singer had been accused of making homophobic statements on social media.
Azalea released the following a statement about her cancelled performance:
"I am truly disappointed that I have to share this news, but I will no longer be performing at Pittsburgh Pride on June 13th. This has been a difficult decision as I truly support the event and LGBTIQA communities; however, I feel my participation at this point would only serve to further distract from the true purpose of the event.
"I am a firm believer in equality. Unfortunately in the past as a young person, I used words I should not have. The last thing I want is for something so carelessly said to be interpreted as reflective of my character. I meant no harm and deeply regret ever uttering those words.
"As an adult I would never use them because I understand they play a detrimental role in the fight for issues that I do truly believe in. I am sorry to anyone I have offended or disappointed, and I wish all my fans and friends participating in Pride the best of luck."
https://twitter.com/IGGYAZALEA/status/608061332676558848
The board of the Delta Foundation also released a statement Monday evening, saying, in part: “We're sorry that our headliner choice caused a division within our community, but we believe that change happens through conversation. We are meeting with key LGBT leaders to start a discussion that will make our collective community even stronger."
Pittsburgh City Council President Bruce Kraus was joined Tuesday by 12 LGBT organizations that accuse the Delta Foundation of exclusion, particularly with minorities.
“Iggy Azalea served as a catalyst, but only a catalyst for a much deeper and more meaningful conversation that I believe all of us would like to see take place,” Kraus said.
Despite the singer’s cancelled performance, a protest planned Saturday for the Pride in the Street concert site will go on, with the focus solely on the Delta Foundation’s leadership.
“There's no people of color on their board. There's no trans folks on their board,” said Michael David Battle, with Garden of Peace.
Several groups are organizing their own alternative events, starting with a Town Hall meeting Thursday.
“We are addressing systematic injustices based race, based on class, based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” said La'tasha Mayes, with New Voices Pittsburgh.
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