Chairman and CEO of Supreme Promotions, Isaiah Laing is blaming Bounty Killer for the chaos that ensued at the Boxing Day show, Sting. Speaking with the Jamaica Gleaner Laing explains that Bounty was who didn’t wait his turn and thereafter things went out of order.
“We were running 25 minutes behind for the Giants. Tanya [Stephens] was supposed to work before Capleton, but the Fireman had asked to work at a certain time so we sent him on. After Tanya, it was supposed to be Spragga Benz, then Anthony B and then Bounty Killer, but Bounty didn’t wait his turn,” Laing explained.
He admitted that Bounty had requested to be on stage at a certain time but said that despite this request, Bounty should have followed the protocol set for the running order despite the time lapse.
“To be fair, Bounty had requested to perform at 5 a.m., but he should have waited. If the show had gone according to the order, there would have been no clash because there wouldn’t be any time for it. Bounty had a long set, and after him it would be Tommy Lee closing the show … and Tommy had called to say that he was on his way,” he said.
Deejay Spragga Benz took to social media to apologize to his fans for not performing on the show saying, “I just want say on behalf of miself and the whole Red Square team was present and ready last night to perform at Reggae Sting 2023, due to circumstances beyond our control, the anticipated performance never manifested, but look out for us next time in one organized environment, Rastafari love.”
The Shotta Culture deejay seem to also lay blame at the feet of another artist for hogging the stage and now allowing him to perform as he posted, “How mi observe some artist move at stage shows is like nobody else no fi have nothing where music is concerned,” he wrote on Instagram.
Laing in turn expressed profound regret that Spragga Benz Anthony B, and Tommy Lee did not get to perform but were billed as three of 10 giants headlining the show.
The veteran police and promoter explained that he tried to stop Bounty’s set after he realized he was already on stage, “I was talking with a potential sponsor for 2024 when I saw Bounty arrive on stage, and I went around same time to try and stop it. I tell yuh … Spragga Benz was so hurt… mi feel it. I had a long talk with him. All now I don’t see the fight. I was sitting in a vehicle when I hear ‘Fight!’. But I think it was happening backstage. Imagine, me a pay homage to the young people dem and dem go fight pon stage.”
Sting ended in a brawl between new artists Fully Bad And Honormosity who were arrested and charged for disorderly conduct. The two have since been seen together conducting interviews on radio and TV.
“So we still blessed. Satan at the end did haffi try and disrupt the good work of God. We did too well so he had to find his disciples,” Laing said about the brawl. He told WMV that he would step down as head of the show’s promotion team come next year but he is calling for sponsors to support the annual event.
“Sting is iconic to Jamaica … it is a part of our culture … and it needs to be fully sponsored. I am calling out Government and corporate to join hands and stand with the promoters of Sting to make this calendar event a really great and sustainable festival,” Laing said.
