Profanity not tolerated at Town Point Park

NORFOLK, VA. (WAVY.com) -- Controversy is brewing about cursing at concerts at Town Point Park in Norfolk.

Saturday night at the Bayou Boogaloo, a rapper on-stage was pulled off and issued a summons for using profanity in public.

Festevents coordinators say there were about 4,000 people in the crowd, including a lot of families and children.

They showed up for some hot music and a little Cajun food, but spicy language was not supposed to be on the menu.
 
So when rapper Boots Riley blasted out a slew of foul language, he quickly got the hook and was pulled off stage.
 
"The band Galactic, which we've had for the last two years, invited on stage a guest performer who we were not familiar with, he began a rap song with colorful language that is not acceptable here," said Festevents Executive Director, Karen Scherberger. "It was obviously part of his act, and as soon as I heard it, I went to the stage, got the stage manager and he motioned for the performer to step off the stage."
 
Boots Riley was issued a summons, for a misdemeanor charge of Using Profanity in Public.
 
The heightened awareness of cursing performers at concerts in Town Point Park stems from a similar issue at the Af'ram Fest a few weeks ago. There were numerous complaints of cursing and foul language by the artists. Residents said it went on through the night and could be heard throughout the increasingly residential downtown area.
 
Festevents is not a city agency, though it does receive some city funding. And city leaders say they stand behind Festevents, saying it's a first class organization that has been putting on first class events for 25 years, events they say should remain family friendly.
 
Festevents has told Galactic and Boots Riley they will not be allowed to perform at any of their events again.