Following a series of child sex abuse allegations, music festivals that had booked Afrika Bambaataa as part of their summer lineups this year have begun to drop the hip-hop pioneer from their artist rosters.
FACT reports that East Sussex, UK festival Soundcrash Funk & Soul Weekender cancelled Bambaataa's appearance, simply saying he "will no longer be playing" in a statement made through their Facebook page. The festival has since called upon another hip-hop forefather to take his place in Grandmaster Flash.
Bristol festival Loves Saves the Day, which runs May 28 and 29, has also cancelled a set from Bambaataa. While not commenting on the cancellation, festival organizers told FACT that has has "definitely now been removed from the lineup."
As previously reported, Ronald Savage, a former New York State Democratic Committee member, claimed in his 2014 book and a radio interview that the musician forced him to perform oral sex on him and also repeatedly sodomized him. Savage was in his early teens at the time.
Bamabaataa released a statement earlier this month denying the claims, saying Savage shows "a reckless disregard for the truth." Three more men have since come forward with allegations of their own.
FACT reports that East Sussex, UK festival Soundcrash Funk & Soul Weekender cancelled Bambaataa's appearance, simply saying he "will no longer be playing" in a statement made through their Facebook page. The festival has since called upon another hip-hop forefather to take his place in Grandmaster Flash.
Bristol festival Loves Saves the Day, which runs May 28 and 29, has also cancelled a set from Bambaataa. While not commenting on the cancellation, festival organizers told FACT that has has "definitely now been removed from the lineup."
As previously reported, Ronald Savage, a former New York State Democratic Committee member, claimed in his 2014 book and a radio interview that the musician forced him to perform oral sex on him and also repeatedly sodomized him. Savage was in his early teens at the time.
Bamabaataa released a statement earlier this month denying the claims, saying Savage shows "a reckless disregard for the truth." Three more men have since come forward with allegations of their own.
