Another controversy from Buju Banton! Singer criticizes the GLBT community in the United States! Read on Surforeggae!

Jamaican reggae singer Buju Banton was blunt and practical in criticizing gay groups that have protested against his shows in the United States: "Fuck them".

"I never spoke badly of gays before, and if I had done that, I would have done it 16 years ago," the singer told Billboard.com. "The gay community is not tolerant at all. I am not homophobic."

In September, a Los Angeles club canceled the singer's performance, whose lyrics are clearly homophobic in character. In July, shows by Banton and his colleague Beenie Man were canceled in England after gay activists complained that they refused to remove homophobic expressions from the lyrics of their songs. Banton has two songs, "Batty Rider" and "Boom Bye Bye", that mention shooting gays. In 2004, Banton was cleared of accusations of having participated in the beating of six homosexuals in Jamaica.