Montreal Jazz Fest cancels controversial 'SLAV' show after backlash

The Montreal Jazz Festival has ultimately cancelled performances of the controversial show SLĀV, which features a mostly-white cast performing African-American slave songs. The show was protested by marchers in Montreal, and Moses Sumney dropped off Montreal Jazz Fest after the festival “continued to defend this show publicly.”

The festival released an official statement, which reads:

Since the beginning of SLĀV performances, the Festival team has been shaken and strongly affected by all comments received. We would like to apologize to those who were hurt. It was not our intention at all.

For the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, inclusion and reconciliation between communities are essential.

We made the decision with the artist Betty Bonifassi to cancel all performances of the show at the Festival.

By the end of the edition and for the years to come, the Festival will continue its mission:

* Support the artistic development of jazz music and its related music and the emergence of its artists, as well as fostering the discovery, promotion and artists’ influence.

* Make accessible to the whole population a diversity of musical styles.

* Create a connection between the various communities through a multicultural music programming.

Ticket holders can obtain a refund at the point of purchase. Box-office of Théâtre du Nouveau Monde: 514 866-8668 ext. 1

SLĀV, which was touted as a “theatrical odyssey based on slave songs,” is the project of stage/film director Robert Lepage, and starred Bonifassi along with six other performers. You may also know Bonifassi from the soundtrack of The Triplets of Belleville or the band Beast.