City of Toronto apologizes for rapper Belly’s language at Canada 150 performance

TheGlobeAndMail.com
July 4, 2017

The City of Toronto is apologizing for the "inappropriate content" during a rapper's closing performance to the city's Canada Day festivities at Nathan Phillips Square.

"As per contracts, the city expects all artists to deliver G-rated, family-friendly shows suitable for all ages," the city said in an emailed statement Tuesday afternoon.

The city's apology comes after complaints from revellers, who also expressed their displeasure on social media, about what they said was repeated use of profanities by Belly.

The city said it is "disappointed with what happened" during performance and has followed up with the rapper.

Belly, who was born in the Palestinian city of Jenin and raised in Ottawa, was the final performer of the four-day celebrations, which ended with fireworks Monday night.

The musician has been defending himself on social media, saying organizers were aware his performance would contain profanities.

Since the show, he has also posted various tweets denouncing censorship and promoting freedom of expression.

"A young immigrant came to the greatest country on Earth with nothing and made my dreams come true. That's the real story here," he tweeted Tuesday.