Singer Fantasia has found herself surrounded by controversy after announcing her headlining concert in Charlotte. The concert is intended to promote unity and encourage change in the Charlotte community. But many were unimpressed once they noticed the event’s name.
Fantasia, Anthony Hamilton and John P. Kee putting on an “All Lives Matter” concert in Charlotte tonight. pic.twitter.com/hMgm2YDlDK
— Carolina Blitz (@VashtiHurt) September 25, 2016
Sunday, Fantasia shared the concert’s flyer via her Instagram account, which was deemed as “Hear Me Now! – All Lives Matter.” Many are aware that “All Lives Matter” is a phrase that was created to antagonize those the Black Lives Matter movement, and is also flippant of the BLM cause. As Tasia carelessly shared the flyer, many of her fans expressed their disdain for the concert’s name across social media. The show’s lineup also included Dennis Reed, John P. Kee, and Anthony Hamilton. Hamilton quickly defended himself on social media, insisting he did not approve the wording on the flyer. The event was originally set to take place on Sunday evening, but was postponed to next weekend. Fantasia made the announcement via a Facebook video alongside her husband, in which she also shared her sentiments on the concert and its “All Lives Matter” title.
Important message regarding tonight’s event. Please join us next week. Thank you to the city of Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/jw9dKSvsWO — Fantasia Barrino (@TasiasWord) September 25, 2016
“I understand that our people are still in poverty and we’re not getting certain things that we deserve. I understand that, but the only way we’re going to get it is not through tearing up buildings,” she said while sitting next to her husband, Kendall Taylor. “Two thousand years ago, Jesus ended the debate on which lives matter. He died for all us. All of us. Martin Luther King stood for love and unity for all people. United we stand, divided we fall. Let’s all stand together. So black lives matter, yes they do. All lives matter.”
Coming to the defense of his wife, Taylor shared his thoughts on the controversy, insisting that people are failing to see the bigger picture.
“What kind of flyer do ya’ll want?” he insisted. “We’ll send out some individual flyers. You hit us up, you let us know what flyer is going to get you motivated to come into the street. You want a blue flyer? You want a green flyer? Rainbow flyer? A purple flyer? Whatever flyer it takes to get you to fly to your house and fly away from your excuses […] Put all the details to the side. Pick up your sword, put on your armor, gird yourself, and have something to fight for.”
As many celebs, Fantasia and her husband have expressed a disconnect with their fans and the BLM movement. Instead of empathizing with the cries of her fans, Tasia and her husband are doing what many “All Lives Matter” trolls do: derailing from the real issue. Fantasia’s reference to Jesus is a lazy argument and serves no purpose. It is quite simple. If all lives mattered, law enforcement would not continuously murder Black lives. Therefore, all lives cannot matter until Black Lives Matter. It’s quite disheartening that celebrities constantly expose their ignorance to the movement.
