The performance rights organisation has announced that Gospel music icon Kim Burrell will not be taking part in this weekend’s BMI Gospel Music Honors because of the homophobic remark that has spiraled to become quite an issue.
The BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Honors announcement follows the backlash the Gospel music singer has received in recent times due to the sermon where she spoke the mind of God about homosexuality.
Kim Burrell amidst the backlash has said she spoke from the place of love and would never judge, notwithstanding she stood her ground saying she has no cause to take her sermon back.
She has since been dropped from a scheduled performance on Ellen and had her show “Bridging the Gap with Kim Burrell” canceled from Texas Southern University’s KTSU radio station.
In a statement, BMI announced Burrell’s removal from the ceremony scheduled for Jan. 14:
“BMI’s Trailblazers of Gospel Music is an annual celebration of gospel music and its many talented songwriters. Given the controversy surrounding this year’s co-honoree Kim Burrell, we have asked her to not take part in the ceremony in order to allow the focus to remain on the songwriters and their music. BMI was founded over 76 years ago with an open door policy to welcome songwriters across all genres, and that same spirit of tolerance, diversity and inclusiveness continues today.”
BMI will still be honoring gospel music singer Marvin Sapp at the event come Saturday.
