Controversial rap group Odd Future have been removed from the lineup of traveling music festival Big Day Out's Auckland stop, due to complaints about their lyrical content. The Los Angeles skate-rap crew's homophobic lyrics, which have caused a stir in the past, raised the ire of Auckland activist Calum Bennachie, who entreated the Auckland City Council to take them off the bill.

"Lyrics such as those played by Odd Future increase the societal discourse against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, a discourse that encourages bullying and violence'," Bennachie said, in a letter to the festival's organizers. "If it is acceptable to say something similar to 'gays are a cancer on society that deserves to be eliminated,' then what group would be next?"

Auckland's City Council, which owns the Big Day Out venue Mt. Smart Stadium, forced the festival's promoters to bar the band from performing at their space, however, promoter Ken West said that he will be organizing a separate headlining show for Odd Future to perform, and that the Australian dates will not be effected by Bennachie's protests.

Big Day Out dealt with a similar situation in 2010, when dancehall artist Beenie Man was yanked from the tour after gay rights groups protested his inclusion.

Last weekend, Odd Future made headlines for causing a scene once again, after member Left Brain was accused of assaulting a female photographer during the Voodoo Experience festival in New Orleans.

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