Watch CBS News

Michelle Shocked Apologizes For Anti-Gay Rant At SF Show, Audio Emerges

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A Grammy-nominated folk singer who reportedly made anti-gay comments at a San Francisco concert venue on Sunday released a statement Wednesday proclaiming her support for the LGBT community.

Michelle Shocked, whose career started in the 1980s, reportedly said "God hates f—s" and made other anti-gay comments during a show at Yoshi's in San Francisco's Fillmore District, drawing controversy and the cancellation of all upcoming dates on her tour.

Officials from Yoshi's also said Shocked would never be invited back to their venue.

Michelle Shocked's Comments At Yoshi's (Explicit Language)

Shocked said in the statement Wednesday that she was misinterpreted by the Yoshi's audience, some of whom wrote on social media about the comments.

"I do not, nor have I ever, said or believed that God hates homosexuals," Shocked said.

She said when she told fans, "Twitter that Michelle Shocked says 'God hates f-----s,'" she was "predicting the absurd way my description of, my apology for, the intolerant would no doubt be misinterpreted."

Shocked said, "To those fans who are disappointed by what they've heard or think I said, I'm very sorry: I don't always express myself as clearly as I should. But don't believe everything you read on Facebook or Twitter. My view of homosexuality has changed not one iota. I judge not."

She said, "If I could repeat the evening, I would make a clearer distinction between a set of beliefs I abhor, and my human sympathy for the folks who hold them."

Nevertheless, the singer's comments at Yoshi's prompted concert organizers to cancel all upcoming shows on Shocked's U.S. tour, according to the website of John M. Becker, who created a Change.org petition encouraging the venues to cancel her shows.

The upcoming concerts included ones in Santa Cruz and Novato.

Shocked's statement Wednesday also did little to assuage angered fans on social media.

One person wrote on Twitter, "Sorry Michelle Shocked but some vague PR letter doesn't get you off the hook. It's over. You're done."

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.