Dancehall veteran Elephant Man has broken his silence following the controversy surrounding his Dream Weekend performance, where videos circulating online appeared to show him pushing an elderly man off the stage.
The incident angered users on social media, with many viewers criticizing the artiste after the clip went viral. However, Elephant Man has now clarified that the moment was not what it appeared to be.
In a public statement shared on social media, the “Energy God” explained that the elderly man seen in the video is a member of his performance team known as “Fyah.” According to Elephant Man, the two have travelled together around the world for years, and the stage push was a pre-planned part of the performance.
“It has been brought to my attention, as well as to my management team, that videos of my performance at Dream Weekend are currently being circulated on social media, particularly the moment where I appeared to push a member of my team, ‘Fyah,’ off the stage,” the artiste wrote.
He went on to state that the stunt had been carefully planned and that no one was placed in danger.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that this was a pre-planned, staged performance. At no point was any member of my team intentionally placed in danger, and no one was hurt or injured during or after the performance.”
Elephant Man also acknowledged that many people may have been alarmed after watching the video without knowing the full context.
“I understand how the footage, especially when viewed without context, may have caused concern, and for that I sincerely apologize. It was never our intention to alarm or mislead anyone. The moment was simply part of the entertainment and had been planned in advance.”
The dancehall star thanked supporters who reached out following the incident and expressed appreciation for their continued understanding.
The clarification comes after another controversial moment from the same Dream Weekend performance, when Elephant Man was seen dragging a cameraman on stage before telling him, “Yuh bruk, yuh cyaa sue mi,” a remark that drew widespread criticism on social media.
In the full performance video, Elephant Man addressed the cameraman afterwards, saying, “Big up yuhself, no disrespect, we just a entertain the people.” Dancehall fans in the comment section of the post requested a formal apology, directly and solely to the cameraman.
Despite his explanation regarding “Fyah” and his comments to the cameraman, reactions online remain mixed.
While some fans accepted that the stage push was part of the show, others argued that the performance looked too realistic and could easily have been misunderstood by viewers who were unaware it had been choreographed.
Elephant Man, whose real name is O’Neil Bryan, has built a career spanning more than two decades and is widely known for his energetic performances and theatrical stage antics. His latest statement appears aimed at putting the controversy to rest while assuring fans that no member of his team was harmed during the performance.
