Controversial Jamaican reggae performer Beenie Man, whose appearance at the Big Day Out music festival has been cancelled, has apologised for causing offense with his lyrics.
The event's promoters dropped Beenie Man from the January concert in response to protests about his lyrics inciting violence towards gay men and women.
The written apology says Beenie Man, or Moses Davis, renounced violence when he signed the Reggae Compassionate Act in 2007.
He says people may misunderstand his lyrics but the words are not intended to be harmful and he wants his music to bring people together.
Big Day Out organisers say the apology won't change the decision to cancel Beenie Man's performance.
