Following the Sunday evening broadcast of the Juno Awards, co-host and comedian Russell Peters came under fire for troubling comments he made before and during the show. Now, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (CARAS) and the Juno Awards have made an official statement regarding Peters's remarks.
In a statement posted the awards show's website this afternoon (April 4), CARAS president and CEO Allan Reid wrote that "we do not, in any way support, nor did we sanction, the off-script remarks Mr. Peters made in regards to the girls and women in attendance at the Awards, along with his inappropriate reference to the Honourable Minister Mélanie Joly."
Peters opened the evening by surveying the awards show crowd and cracking: "Look at all the young girls. This is a felony waiting to happen." An ET Canada video from the pre-show red carpet also saw Peters pose with a female and male Mountie, to which Peters remarked, "I'm only mounting one of you," before turning to the male and saying, "It's not you."
Reid's statement continued, "CARAS and our charitable arm MusiCounts, conduct significant efforts to engage and support women, particularly funding initiatives for girls in school and community music programs. While we understand that there is still a lot of work to be done in these areas, we firmly believe the first step is empowering females."
Peters has yet to publicly comment on the backlash.
Find Reid's complete statement below.
On behalf of CARAS and The JUNO Awards, I want to address the comments made by Russell Peters on our broadcast on Sunday, April 2. We do not, in any way support, nor did we sanction, the off-script remarks Mr. Peters made in regards to the girls and women in attendance at the Awards, along with his inappropriate reference to the Honourable Minister Mélanie Joly.
CARAS and our charitable arm MusiCounts, conduct significant efforts to engage and support women, particularly funding initiatives for girls in school and community music programs. While we understand that there is still a lot of work to be done in these areas, we firmly believe the first step is empowering females.
CARAS, The JUNO Awards, and myself, deeply apologize for the upset this has caused. This incident is not reflective of any views held in our organization.
Sincerely,
Allan Reid
President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards and MusiCounts
In a statement posted the awards show's website this afternoon (April 4), CARAS president and CEO Allan Reid wrote that "we do not, in any way support, nor did we sanction, the off-script remarks Mr. Peters made in regards to the girls and women in attendance at the Awards, along with his inappropriate reference to the Honourable Minister Mélanie Joly."
Peters opened the evening by surveying the awards show crowd and cracking: "Look at all the young girls. This is a felony waiting to happen." An ET Canada video from the pre-show red carpet also saw Peters pose with a female and male Mountie, to which Peters remarked, "I'm only mounting one of you," before turning to the male and saying, "It's not you."
Reid's statement continued, "CARAS and our charitable arm MusiCounts, conduct significant efforts to engage and support women, particularly funding initiatives for girls in school and community music programs. While we understand that there is still a lot of work to be done in these areas, we firmly believe the first step is empowering females."
Peters has yet to publicly comment on the backlash.
Find Reid's complete statement below.
On behalf of CARAS and The JUNO Awards, I want to address the comments made by Russell Peters on our broadcast on Sunday, April 2. We do not, in any way support, nor did we sanction, the off-script remarks Mr. Peters made in regards to the girls and women in attendance at the Awards, along with his inappropriate reference to the Honourable Minister Mélanie Joly.
CARAS and our charitable arm MusiCounts, conduct significant efforts to engage and support women, particularly funding initiatives for girls in school and community music programs. While we understand that there is still a lot of work to be done in these areas, we firmly believe the first step is empowering females.
CARAS, The JUNO Awards, and myself, deeply apologize for the upset this has caused. This incident is not reflective of any views held in our organization.
Sincerely,
Allan Reid
President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards and MusiCounts