Leave Dalton alone - Industry players say J'cans should focus on Harris' talent

"Dalton is still a talented Jamaican!" That is the message some industry insiders are hoping their fellow Jamaicans will get in light of the recent 'scandal' surrounding former Digicel Rising Stars winner, Dalton Harris.

Social media was sent into a frenzy late Wednesday night when a photo of Harris sitting in another man's lap surfaced. Harris, who has been flying the Jamaican flag high on the UK's X Factor, went from exemplary Jamaican ambassador to public enemy number one in less than 24 hours.

By Thursday morning, social media was flooded with angry comments from upset Jamaicans, who felt the photo somehow proved that Harris was a homosexual. The comments were so overwhelming that it warranted a response from Harris, who lashed back in a manner that had well-thinking Jamaicans pledging their unwavering support for him.

"If I didn't know myself I would have been broken today by all the ignorance. I would have actually believed what you thought of me. Good thing I know exactly who I am, and I am far from broken. I mean it when I say you have your life to fix, so stop wasting time trying to break someone else's. You cannot touch me mentally or in any other way. So, believe me when I say I am not fazed," he said via Instagram.

GIVE MORE SUPPORT

Speaking with THE WEEKEND STAR about the situation, Dr Donna Hope, professor of culture, gender and society at the UWI, said the backlash should only cause well-thinking Jamaicans to thrust even more support behind Harris.

Sexuality aside, Hope said Harris' talent has not changed.

"Dalton is still the same Jamaican that everyone has been lauding and screaming in ecstasy about every time he comes on X Factor. He's the same person. I really hope that other well-thinking Jamaicans at home and abroad, who may not have been voting, will use this moment to show their support as Jamaicans and nothing else."

Media personality Debbie Bissoon agrees.

"For those persons who are a little bit more aware and have grown in their thoughts and perceptions about people, I don't think all is lost. I really hope that people will continue to support him because of the fact that he has an incredible talent and he's still representing Jamaica in a great way," she said, noting that Harris' success could open doors for other Jamaicans.

Addressing how some Jamaicans have now painted the country based on their reaction to the photo, both Bissoon and Hope said the negativity spewed out at Harris has only served to reinforce what persons in the international space already think of Jamaicans.

"The country already had a bad image regarding its response to and relationship with male homosexuality. This backlash only strengthens that image," Hope said.

Bissoon added: "This is going to look a way on our country, and it will confirm a lot of long-held perceptions that we are a homophobic nation."