In an interesting turn of events, beloved gospel artiste Kirk Franklin this week issued an apology to the people of Jamaica he may have offended during his performance on the island in 2024.

Among the topics discussed by the international gospel entertainer in his YouTube 2024 year-in-review was his trip to the island.

The singer-songwriter indicated he was overjoyed to have had the opportunity to visit and perform for his local fans as headliner for the annual Fun in the Son concert at the National Stadium in April.

After showing clips of the sold-out event, the entertainer issued an apology to the attendees he may have rubbed the wrong way.

“I am aware now that my choice of attire, which as a team we thought was going to be fine — being outside in the weather — was going to be something that would not come across as disrespectful. And since I have spent most of my career dancing and moving around and jumping onstage, that I didnt know that I would ever do anything that would ever offend anyone in any community, but it did. And because it did, I sincerely apologise,” he said.

Social media and talk shows had featured loud opinions of the relaxed attire of the Grammy-winning artiste onstage, with some suggesting he ought to have made different choices and perform with less theatrics and gyration for the Christianity-charged event.

Making clear his regret, in a sombre tone, he added: “I sincerely apologise, because I never want to get to a place that I can’t learn… that I can’t learn what I need to do better, what I can do different to make sure that, as I grow as a man, grow musically, in any aspect, that I’m always being humble enough, and submissive enough, to hear people and their concerns about anything being bigger than the message of Jesus. Because it doesn’t matter what my goal… is, if I’m louder than the message of Jesus then I’ve failed.”

The over-16-minute year-in-review racked up over 50,000 views on YouTube within days of being posted with Jamaicans actively making comments.

Other topics discussed were his multi-country African tour and his performance with rapper-turned-movie star Will Smith at the recent BET Awards.

The oft-controversial artiste has continued to maintain an adoring fan base among Jamaicans with his music still enjoying much airplay and selection on play lists.

— MAT