J Balvin (archive image)
Photo:
Andrew Kelly / REUTERS
The Colombian reggaeton singer J Balvin apologized after the outrage over his song "Perra".
"I would like to apologize to all people who have felt attacked, especially women and the black community," said the singer in a video on social networks.
He always promoted tolerance, love and integration.
"Forgive me and I promise to get better every day"
J Balvin turned directly to his mother, who had reacted with surprise and concern to the video for "Perra" in the Colombian media.
It showed women with chains around their necks, who are led on a leash like dogs.
"Forgive me and I promise to get better every day."
The song had caused great indignation in Colombia, including in government circles.
Vice-President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez described the text of "Perra" (bitch) as "sexist, macho and racist".
The song contains expressions that violate women's rights by comparing them to an animal that should be controlled and mistreated.
The singer wanted his song to be understood differently: It was about »that women, like men, can be rioters.
If you are a player as a man, a woman can 'bite' you - because she may be just like you, «the 36-year-old, real name José Álvaro Osorio Balvín, said when it was published in September.
His music is "just sexy".
Reggaeton, a mixture of rap, reggae and other Caribbean sounds, is successful worldwide.
The genre made the leap from Latin America to the world long ago.
Like hip-hop, however, it is not undisputed either.
For many, the often explosive texts are clearly sexist to misogynistic.
wit / dpa