Concern was raised over the performance of Die Antwoord at the Big Day Out at Claremont Showgrounds on February 11. The South African band started their set with a recording that repeatedly used the word faggot. Local gay man Michael Pilkington posted to his Twitter account ‘That’s way too much homophobia for me’.
Speaking to OIP, Pilkington elaborated: ‘This is a derogatory statement which has long been used to verbally abuse people who might not even belong to the Queer Community and frankly, it’s a homophobic term however you spin it.’ Members of the local community contacted OIP to express concern for their safety during the performance or offence at its content.
Later in the day OIP journalist Scott-Patrick Mitchell was assaulted by a man inside the Lily World area. Mitchell recounted, ‘He kicked a table and chair at me, called me a faggot, before high-fiving his friends. I was so shocked, I didn’t realise what was happening until one of his mates started moving towards me, then I figured I should get out of there.’
Immediately after the event OIP asked the organisers of the Big Day Out if they were concerned about offending the GLBTIQ community and if they considered the inclusion of Die Antwoord as a risk prior to the event. No response had been received at the time of print.
Graeme Watson
