Dancehall artiste Mr Vegas has stepped in to try and smooth things over after fellow Jamaican entertainer Beenie Man sparked controversy with his remarks about Trinidad & Tobago’s beloved street food, doubles. In a lighthearted move, Mr Vegas publicly apologized on behalf of Beenie Man, humorously pledging to indulge in “singles, doubles, and triples” on his next visit to the twin-island nation. His gesture comes amid a social media storm that saw Trinbagonians, including government officials and soca stars, rally in defence of one of their national dishes.
The controversy ignited after Beenie Man’s appearance on the Drink Champs podcast, where he stated that while doubles is “nice,” he refuses to eat it because “dogs don’t eat doubles.” His comment, which was viewed over 215,000 times on YouTube, struck a nerve with Trinbagonians, prompting figures like Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Amery Browne and soca icon Machel Montano to subtly clap back by celebrating the dish. Despite issuing an apology and clarifying his intent, the backlash lingered, leading Mr Vegas to extend an olive branch on behalf of the dancehall community.
In a Facebook post, the Heads High singer admitted he was previously unfamiliar with doubles but expressed excitement about trying it. “On behalf of the dancehall community, I would like to apologize to the people of Trinidad and Tobago for anything our speeky spooky brother, Beenie Man, may have said that offended your culture,” he wrote. The post, which quickly gained traction online, was seen as a strategic move to repair relations between Dancehall and its Caribbean neighbours.
However, not everyone is convinced of Mr Vegas’ sincerity. Some believe his apology is less about cultural unity and more about self-promotion, as he is currently pushing his latest single, Put Me To Work, featuring DJ Tygga Ty. Critics argue that his sudden engagement in the doubles controversy is a calculated attempt to stay relevant. Whether genuine or opportunistic, one thing is certain—Mr Vegas has successfully inserted himself into one of the Caribbean’s hottest debates, proving once again that in dancehall, timing is everything.
