2016-03-31-boyfriend
New Orleans Rapper, Boyfriend, was scheduled to play Proud Larrys’ last Thursday with Group Text opening the show. When Group Text left the stage, manager Bruce Butler announced that Boyfriend would not be playing. Butler read a prepared statement citing political tension and the safety of Proud Larrys’ as a venue for why she would not be performing.
The Local Voice reached out to Boyfriend, who was quick to respond and explain the circumstances surrounding that evening, while trying on lingerie at her favorite shop in New Orleans, The Trashy Diva.
“It was about an hour before we were going to be on stage when the owners came downstairs and said they wanted to talk to us,” said Boyfriend. “[They voiced] concerns about their ability to continue as a business if they allowed the show to go on.”
The owners told boyfriend she would need to edit the content of her show to go on.
“It puts them in a really tough spot,” said boyfriend. “That’s not who they want to be as humans or business owners. When it came down to it, 2 inches of flesh is not really enough of an edit to make the overall rap cabaret performance safe for them.”
Boyfriend wanted to make clear that she was empathetic to the position that Proud Larrys’ was in and held no grudge against them.
“Ultimately it was the venue’s decision to cancel, and I understand that,” said Boyfriend. “I don’t want to put someone at risk of losing their livelihood. If I was the one that was going to put in handcuffs then I would have said forget it, we’re going on stage right now and I’m performing. Because of how the law is structured, it would the show promoter who would be held accountable.”
Concern that her canceling the show was done as a protest to Mississippi’s religious freedom law was struck down instantly.
“All the more reason to push the boundaries,” said Boyfriend. “HB1523 was just passed, all the more reason to get up there and do this. But at the end of the day it’s someone’s business and someone’s livelihood”
She continued with what particularly interested her about the entire situation.
“You have a business that feels afraid to conduct it’s own business,” said Boyfriend. “Right after the passing of this law that theoretically protects businesses and individuals and their ability to conduct themselves, it’s kind of ironic.”
Boyfriend said that she will be back in Oxford as soon as possible. 
Editor’s Note, for clarification (8:55 pm 04/11/2016): Boyfriend’s performance is known for being highly sexual and physically revealing. The cancellation came from the artist and venue being unable to find a compromise that kept the spirit of Boyfriend’s art as well as gave assurance to Proud Larrys’ that there would not be consequence.
