Saturday, May 5 2007

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Akon...

ONE of the world’s largest cellular phone providers Verizon has ended its partnership with hip-hop star Akon. Fox News newtwork online edition reported that the Senegalese-born star was axed by Verizon Wireless after he (Akon) simulated the rape of a 15-year-old girl on stage at the Zen nightclub three weeks ago.

“This week the partnership ended,” Verizon said in a statement sent to Fox News. “We have music services on our cellphone service and we were promoting him as one of the artistes. The other part of the sponsorship was the Gwen Stefani tour, of which he was an opening act. We are no longer sponsoring the tour.”

Akon’s recording Konvicted was near the top of the Billboard album charts for weeks. He’s a best-selling performer in more than a dozen countries including the United Kingdom, France, Canada and South Africa.

The provocative dance with minor Danah Alleyne, daughter of a prominent pastor, stirred major controversy locally with police raiding the Zen and even Prime Minister Patrick Manning getting involved saying he was monitoring the situation.

The teen said she was permitted into the club despite being underage, and was part of what was characterised as an impromptu dance competition announced by the singer. A trip to Africa was the prize. But after Danah “won” the contest, Akon announced the Africa prize was actually him.

Various video footage of the Zen stage romp were posted on several popular Internet sites including YouTube. Akon has served jail time for armed robbery and drug sales but still has appeared as a guest performer on American Idol and received corporate support from companies like Verizon. This is not the first time Akon has been criticised for dirty dancing. In his video for his hit “Snack Dat,” Akon hits actress Tara Reid on her behind and then sandwiches her in a sexually provocative way between himself and another man.

Born in St Louis, Akon is the son of Senegalese parents. He served a total of five years in prison. In late 2005, his manager Robert Montanez was killed in a drive-by shooting. Akon was in the car and was shot in the shoulder, however he made a full recovery. He professes to be a Muslim and a believer and practitioner of polygamy. Akon is currently working on his first movie. He has his own clothing line and diamond distribution company.