Hidden Figures stars condemn soundtrack artist over homophobic rant
The stars of the movie Hidden Figures have condemned an artist on the soundtrack, after a homophobic rant.
In a church sermon this week, pastor and singer Kim Burrell – who features on Pharrell track ‘I See A Victory’ – claimed that homosexuality is an “evil spirit” and that homosexuality is a perverted act.
Burrell claimed: “Anybody in this room who is filled with the homosexual spirit, pray God to free you. You’re playing with it in 2017, you’ll die from it.
“That perverted, homosexual spirit is a spirit of delusion and confusion. If you, as a man, will open your mouth and take a man’s penis in your face, you are perverted.
“If you are a woman and you shake your breasts in another woman’s face, you are perverted.”
Burrell had been set to appear on The Ellen Show this week to promote her track, which appears on the soundtrack of film Hidden Figures.
The film’s stars Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae both condemned the comments, after Pharrell also spoke out against hate speech.
Ms Spencer said: “We are all God’s children equal in his eyes. Hatred isn’t the answer. Intolerance isn’t the answer.”
Ms Monae added: “I unequivocally repudiate ANY AND ALL hateful comments against the LGBTQ community… we all belong to the same community, a shared community called humanity.
“Today and tomorrow and the next day I will continue to stand with other like minded people who condemn any and all statements and actions that would seek to deny the basic humanity of our fellow brothers and sisters.
“We cannot sit Idly by nor will we speak silently when we are confronted with such violence against members of our community. I am personally beyond exhausted by the ignorance and bigotry living in some people.
She added: “My advice: If your religion is causing you to spew out words of hate, judge, or look down on others because of who one loves then you need to change it. And fast. If the religion don’t make you are more loving or better person, ditch it.”
