Back in June, Lithuanian DJ Ten Walls was met with a worldwide backlash and had several shows cancelled after making a reprehensible post on Facebook in which he called homosexuals "another breed" and likened them to pedophiles. He issued a brief apology soon after, and now the producer also known as Marijus Adomaitis has issued a more thorough mea culpa.
Adomaitis took a break following his initial comments. Now, over Twitter, he tweeted that he has taken this time to reflect on his mistakes and has realized that he was wrong. While Adomaitis acknowledged that it was fair for people to label him homophobic, he asserted that this doesn't reflect his true views, and he chalked the rant up to stress.
Adomaitis wrote than he hopes people can forgive him and accept his music once again. To prove his commitment to equality, Adomaitis has apparently joined a group of musicians in writing an "electronic opera" called Carmen to educate people about LGBT acceptance, as well as started a program in Lithuania with the same goals in mind.
Read the full statement below:
I'm Marijus Adomaitis aka Ten Walls. Earlier this year I posted comments on my Facebook page, that I deeply regret. My post was linked to homophobia and was very offensive. I am ashamed to have hurt so many people: my family, my country, my colleagues, my friends, the Global LGBT community and many others. Since then I have taken time out to reflect on what I did and work out a way of apologizing that expresses how sorry I am.
I am saddened by my own behavior and the impact of my actions on others. I offended a lot of people, was the cause of horrible debates, wrecked both my own and the confidence of others and ruined the plans for many people I was working with. Understandably, I was labeled homophobic and I am not and never have considered myself to be this way. I have to tell you that my action was completely out of character and done at a particularly angry and stressful time in my life. This is not an excuse, but I would like you to know that the content of my post is not a true reflection of my feelings. For many years I have been happily working and collaborating with people from different cultures, religious and sexual attitudes. I have always respected everyone.
My post made no sense, even to me. I'm a musician. My music is for everyone in this world. I always try to unite people to promote respect, equality and tolerance, love and peace. It is my priority as a music maker, in music there is no space for discrimination. It is my intention to do something in my home country of Lithuania, to support LGBT groups and educate others on acceptance and tolerance. I am now part of a group of people who have created an electronic opera 'Carmen' with a strong message of this. I hope my involvement in this project will be the first step to educating others in my home country that homophobia is simply not acceptable and that everyone should be free to live the life they choose.
I am sorry for what I have done. I am sorry I let myself down. I hope you can forgive me and that one day through my actions and future behaviour, I will once again be accepted for my music.
Sincerely Yours,
Marijus / Ten Walls
Adomaitis took a break following his initial comments. Now, over Twitter, he tweeted that he has taken this time to reflect on his mistakes and has realized that he was wrong. While Adomaitis acknowledged that it was fair for people to label him homophobic, he asserted that this doesn't reflect his true views, and he chalked the rant up to stress.
Adomaitis wrote than he hopes people can forgive him and accept his music once again. To prove his commitment to equality, Adomaitis has apparently joined a group of musicians in writing an "electronic opera" called Carmen to educate people about LGBT acceptance, as well as started a program in Lithuania with the same goals in mind.
Read the full statement below:
I'm Marijus Adomaitis aka Ten Walls. Earlier this year I posted comments on my Facebook page, that I deeply regret. My post was linked to homophobia and was very offensive. I am ashamed to have hurt so many people: my family, my country, my colleagues, my friends, the Global LGBT community and many others. Since then I have taken time out to reflect on what I did and work out a way of apologizing that expresses how sorry I am.
I am saddened by my own behavior and the impact of my actions on others. I offended a lot of people, was the cause of horrible debates, wrecked both my own and the confidence of others and ruined the plans for many people I was working with. Understandably, I was labeled homophobic and I am not and never have considered myself to be this way. I have to tell you that my action was completely out of character and done at a particularly angry and stressful time in my life. This is not an excuse, but I would like you to know that the content of my post is not a true reflection of my feelings. For many years I have been happily working and collaborating with people from different cultures, religious and sexual attitudes. I have always respected everyone.
My post made no sense, even to me. I'm a musician. My music is for everyone in this world. I always try to unite people to promote respect, equality and tolerance, love and peace. It is my priority as a music maker, in music there is no space for discrimination. It is my intention to do something in my home country of Lithuania, to support LGBT groups and educate others on acceptance and tolerance. I am now part of a group of people who have created an electronic opera 'Carmen' with a strong message of this. I hope my involvement in this project will be the first step to educating others in my home country that homophobia is simply not acceptable and that everyone should be free to live the life they choose.
I am sorry for what I have done. I am sorry I let myself down. I hope you can forgive me and that one day through my actions and future behaviour, I will once again be accepted for my music.
Sincerely Yours,
Marijus / Ten Walls
