Portugal. The Man Cancel 'Sunrise' Appearance Following Racism Controversy Surrounding Show
The band have issued a statement.
US outfit Portugal. The Man have cancelled a scheduled appearance on Sunrise this morning following racism controversy surrounding the breakfast TV show in recent months.
As News Corp reports, the Seven program has faced accusations of being racist and protests following a segment, which aired in March, where host Samantha Armytage discussed the adoption of Indigenous children from abusive homes by white families.
In the segment, panellist Prue Macsween said removing the children was a "no-brainer" and that there was a "conspiracy of silence and fabricated PC outlook that it’s better to leave them in this dangerous environment".
"Don’t worry about the people who decry and hand-wringing and say, this will be another Stolen Generation… just like the first Stolen Generation, where a lot of children were taken because it was for their wellbeing, we need to do it again, perhaps," Macsween said.
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Portugal. The Man cancelled their appearance via a statement posted to Instagram on Tuesday night.
"We come from rural Alaska and hold very close to our hearts the Indigenous people of our home," the statement reads.
"While we are by no means experts in your countries [sic] history we know there are problems that, like ours, are yet to be resolved and only being amplified by the recent statements on Sunrise."
A Channel 7 spokesperson responded to the cancellation, telling News Corp, "We respect the band’s decision and wish them well on the remainder of their Australian tour".
Portugal. The Man will continue their tour in Melbourne tomorrow night followed by the second week of Groovin The Moo; click on theGuide for more details.
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