Thursday, May 10 2007

R&B Singer Akon yesterday publicly “humbly apologised” over his onstage simulated sex dance with 15-year-old Danah Alleyne during his performance at Club Zen in Port of Spain on Apirl 12.

In a release via TMZ.com Akon said he was sorry for the embarrassment and pain caused in the aftermath to his actions.

“First, and most important to me, I want to sincerely apologise for the embarrassment and any pain I’ve caused to the young woman who joined me on-stage, her family and the Trinidad community for the events at my concert,” Akon said.

“It was never my intention to embarrass, or take advantage of my fans in any way, especially those under the age of 18. That is why we tried to make sure that the club did not admit anyone under 18 in the audience. Somehow that standard was not met,” he added.

Akon then pledged that he will strive to make sure that type of incident does not re-occur.

Last week Deputy Commissioner of Police, Winston Cooper, announced during a press conference that the investigations had reached a stalemate and that police had closed the file.

Arising out of the incident, prominent US phone company Verizon announced last Friday that it had dropped contracts, estimated at (US)$50M, with Akon.

Efforts to reach Danah Alleyne for comment last evening, proved futile.