Saturday, May 12 2007

DANAH Alleyne, the 15-year-old who was at the centre of the controversy involving R&B singer Akon yesterday admitted through a spokesperson that she has acknowledged Akon’s apology but was still highly concerned about her “regretted mistake.”

Speaking with Newsday Danah’s brother, Ian Alleyne, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Crime Watch, who acted as her spokesperson, said his sister remained in a solemn and regretful mood.

“Danah is still caught up in the incident and its aftermath. Whilst she acknowledged Akon’s apology she was still trying to come to terms with her mistake which caused utmost embarrassment to her parents, the rest of her family and herself,” he said.

However, Alleyne admitted that his family was glad to know that the police brought closure to the case and hoped that all parties involved used the situation as a learning experience.

“We have forgiven but in light of the situation I must urge all parents, including mine, to, from now on, pay special attention to their children because we live in a society where there are a lot of bad influences around and parents need to be vigilant,” he said.

On Thursday Akon, via a realease from TMZ.com, apologised over his onstage simulated sex dance with Danah during his performance at Club Zen in Port-of-Spain on April 12.

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

Last week Deputy Police Commissioner Winston Cooper announced that police had brought their investigations to an end.