I-Octane Apologises For Using Expletives At Rebel Salute 2023

Days after he spurted expletives during his performance at Rebel Salute, Dancehall star I-Octane has offered an apology for breaking the G-rated event’s strict no-profanity rule, but says at the same time, that his usage of the curse words, was “right in terms of execution”.

The Wine and Jiggle artist’s apology came during an interview with veteran entertainment journalist, Anthony Miller, who quizzed him on the matter on The Entertainment Report.

In his commentary Miller had stated that: “whatever he (Octane) did at Rebel Salute, he did not get much time in which to do it, after starting to curse, prompting the cops to bring the show to an abrupt end”.

Profane language, is strictly prohibited Rebel Salute which is branded as a cultural show, to which children are allowed to attend.

“First and foremost, meck mi apologise to Rebel Salute, because is not a forum – is not a platform where yuh suppose to express yuhself dah way deh.  But rememba seh my ting different,” Octane declared.

“It was wrong in terms of the show; das why mi apologise to Rebel Salute, but it was right in terms of execution, because it went viral and it connect to di people dem. Yuh understand, becaw viral a run di place, don’t?” he added.

During his performance, Octane, while performing at daybreak on Sunday morning in the midst of the crowd had shouted at the weary audience: “A tiad oonu tiad?  A caan tiad oonu bloodcl**t tiad?” 

His microphone was subsequently cut off.

However, that said morning, in a post-performance interview, Octane had said that the Constabulary had no valid reason to pull the plug on his set at Rebel Salute.

In video post of that interview which has been circulating on the internet, Octane tells Irie FM’s Kabu, that he was nonplussed as to why his performance was cut short, this after the journalist asked him to explain what was different about his performance, since Queen Ifrica, Capleton, Iwayne and others had also “spoke truth” and were not stopped.

Octane had attested that during his performance a police officer had told him he had “dissed” Prime Minister Andrew Holness, by making commentary about the way in which the country was being run. 

“Him seh mi naw get no forward an mi a diss di Prime Minister.  Mi sure know mi buss e place… apparently him a Labourite, but hear wha gwaan, all mi can seh to people in Jamaica, yuh cannot die hearted to something that is not beneficial to you,” Octane had stated.

“So when he said you dissed the Prime Minister, what did you do?” the broadcaster had asked, to which I-Octane replied: “They cut the mic an mi just come off…”

Reggae fans have been upbraiding iOctane for using the expletive at Rebel Salute, arguing that it was a flagrant disregard of the rules which he should have known the promoters would not tolerate, since the no-profanity rule is stipulated in all artists’ contracts.

“Mi glad Rebel cut it off u signed with Rebel not to cuss and u still did,” one commenter noted, while another added: “Yuh ca’an ah dis di ting octane.   A di only reggae show over the years been un-polluted by expletives … know yuh self”.

“You’re are sending messages to the P.M but… your mic got turned off because you don’t follow the rules,” was the admonition from another follower, while one man noted: “Rebel Solute has kids there etc, no expletives allowed.”

“No big stage show can’t run on gate only, you need sponsors. Artists need to obey the contract they or their representatives sign, no expletives and name calling,” was the advice from another.

Other Reggae fans had contended that the cutting of the microphone had nothing to do with what Octane said about Holness, and that the artist should own up to his misdeed.

“I don’t think the mike was cut because of time nor the commentary relating to the PM. It was cut because of I Octane’s use of what we call bad word. Rebel Salute prides itself on always presenting a clean show, bad words and any bad behavior not tolerated,” one commenter noted.

“Dem allow him fi talk bout the prime minister respectfully… which is his right but cut him after the expletives,” one commenter said, while another added: “Bredda Octane f-ck up him own performance enuh.. kmt.. most persons there was very disappointed in him.”