I find this was very irresponsible and he should be penalised for this...he essentially was promoting violence, this should not in any way be encouraged. Tote yuh feelings but doh ask the crowd to pelt objects.
Further the promoter is an ass to have the contestants in the show perform AFTER the results. All performers should be guests. No contestant should perform ATALL...dat prejudicing the crowd.
Source
Trinidad expressRavi B apologises for behaviour
By Nigel Telesford and Innis Francis
Story Created: Feb 20, 2011 at 11:50 PM ECT
Story Updated: Feb 21, 2011 at 8:00 AM ECT
Dethroned Chutney Soca Monarch, Ravi Bissambhar, has apologised to fans, patrons and Southex Ltd, promoters of the annual Chutney Soca Monarch competition, after inciting irresponsible behaviour from the fans at the end of his guest performance at the show on Saturday night.
Following the announcement of five-time winner, Rikki Jai, as the 2011 monarch, the remaining 3000-plus audience at the Skinner Park, San Fernando venue had shouted a resounding "nooooo" and began chanting Ravi B's name.
Overwhelmed by the controversial results and subsequent crowd response, Bissambhar and his band, Karma, later performed an emotional 40-minute set of popular cover songs and their original songs for the gathering during the after-competition fete. Before beginning his set, Ravi B asked the audience if they were happy with the results.
After performing a few songs, he instructed his sister Nisha B and other band members to leave the stage.
"Nisha B, Gregory, fellahs, I want allyuh to walk off the stage," Ravi B said.
He continued, "All those who say the title was between Ravi B and KI?"
The crowd shouted their approval.
Ravi B then walked to the right corner of the stage and said all those who were unhappy with the results to pelt something.
Immediately, a shower of bottles and other projectiles, including footwear, cans and cups, rained down on the stage, forcing band members and stagehands to scamper to safety. The police then brought an abrupt end to the event. Thankfully, no one was hurt during the incident.
Obviously displeased and disappointed with Bissambhar's actions, promoter George Singh then spoke privately with the young singer and his family in their dressing room for several minutes.
Afterwards, Bissambhar apologised to the officers on duty, his family and band mates.
He later told the Express: "I'm very sorry for doing that. It was irresponsible of me and people could have been hurt because of the silly suggestion that I gave the people. I got caught up in the emotions of the night and didn't think before I opened my mouth. I sincerely apologise to the fans, Mr Singh and his whole staff for my actions."
However, Bissambhar said he felt he had delivered a great performance and believed the audience did not agree with the results.
"It was heartbreaking to have put out all that energy and to have worked so hard and still lose this way. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Rikki, as someone who has paved the way for Chutney music and for me to exist today and I must congratulate him on his victory. I hope he flies the chutney flag and by extension the flag of T&T very high this year."
Yesterday, however, Riki Jai expressed his shock at Ravi B's response to the loss, saying it was distasteful how Ravi B incited the crowd to violence.
He said: "That was the ranting of a sore loser. One minute he was in front trying to create an impression for the world to see and the next minute inciting violence with the crowd."
Saying he had once been called a mentor by Ravi B, Rikki Jai added, "If that is how you treat your mentor, I don't want to see how he would treat his enemy. It is a sad day for chutney. And as a former monarch that behaviour was very immature.
"He even tried to bring KI into it, but KI came backstage soon after it happened and apologised to me for what had happened. He said 'uncle Rikki I had no part in what happen.'"
The six-time monarch said last year when he finished second in the competition he did not have any grouse with the results. He said, however, that Ravi B's comments yesterday morning were not going to distract him.
"I left the venue with the people who came with me and celebrated. That wasn't the time to deal with that kind of thing," Rikki Jai said.
–With reporting by Anna Ramdass
