Kim Burrell Asked to Not Take Part in BMI Gospel Music Event After Anti-Gay Sermon

BMI has announced that Gospel singer and worship leader Kim Burrell will no longer be appearing on BMI's Trailblazers of Gospel Music Honors scheduled for Jan. 14.  This is due to Burrell's controversial sermon where she condemns gays and the act of homosexuality.

"BMI's Trailblazers of Gospel Music is an annual celebration of gospel music and its many talented songwriters. Given the controversy surrounding this year's co-honoree Kim Burrell, we have asked her to not take part in the ceremony in order to allow the focus to remain on the songwriters and their music. BMI was founded over 76 years ago with an open door policy to welcome songwriters across all genres, and that same spirit of tolerance, diversity and inclusiveness continues today."

BMI further clarified the statement to Billboard to explain Burrell is no longer being honored, in addition to being pulled from the ceremony. 

Recently, a video of Burrell preaching at the Love & Liberty Fellowship Church began circulating online. She said that "the perverted homosexual spirit, and the spirit of delusion and confusion, it has deceived many men and women." She referred to specific homosexual acts as perverted.

Meanwhile, Burrell's scheduled duet with Pharrell  on Jan. 5 on the talk show Ellen was also cancelled.  This is because the show's host Ellen DeGeneres is one of show business' most prominent lesbians. Burrell and Pharrell were supposed to sing "I See Victory" from the soundtrack of the new movie Hidden Figures.

 

 

 

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