S. Samuel
The Fugees' leader Wyclef Jean has publicly called out Sean Penn and ex-associate Pras after both artists blasted him during his brief run at the Haiti presidency this summer.
Performing at New York radio station Hot 97 Labor Day Weekend “On Da Reggae Tip Live” concert, Clef aired out his thoughts on Penn and Pras.
“If I was president….I got a message for Sean Penn, maybe he ain’t see me in Haiti because he was too busy sniffing cocaine. I got a message for Praswell, even though you don’t want to support me, I got love for you, even though you only kicked 8 bars for the Fugees…” (Miss Info TV)
Last month, Penn penned an open editorial piece questioning Jean’s pursuit to become president.
In a story on the Huffington Post today, Penn said “My support is with the Haitian people, and whomever they lawfully select as their next President. It is, it seems, folly for we Americans to assume ‘our Haitian’ is their answer, simply because we enjoy the sense of identification we may feel, or are paid to espouse.” Penn concluded his article by saying “The real and devastating human issues in Haiti must be handled and led by a qualified president’s deft hand. These elections are crucial, and I have no part in them. Neither should Mr. Jean.” (Wall Street Journal)
Pras recently defended his decision to back Haiti presidential candidate Michel Martelly against Clef.
“Basically, I went down to Haiti yesterday to endorse a friend of mine named Michel Martelly. He’s an ex-musician, very, very popular down in Haiti,” Pras explained in an interview. “He used to go by the name ‘Sweet Micky.’ … Listen, I love Wyclef to death. We came up together, we grew up together, we basically called each other cousins. But the reality is this, we need a real leader. Not just a regular leader, but a transformative leader. Someone that’s gonna be able to galvanize the Haitians down on the field, the Haitian-Americans, the international community, it’s a collective support — to take this country to the 21st century. And I’m just not convinced Wyclef is the one for that.” (MTV)
After being ruled ineligible to run for the presidency last month, Clef said he was determined to fight for his opportunity.
“It is with a heavy heart that I tell you today that the board of elections in Haiti has disqualified me from my run for the presidency of the country. Though I disagree with the ruling, I respectfully accept the committee’s final decision, and I urge my supporters to do the same. We must all honor the memories of those we’ve lost–whether in the earthquake, or at anytime–by responding peacefully and responsibly to this disappointment.” (Huffington Post)
Check out footage from Wyclef Jean’s performance below:
