Reggae songstress Etana has weighed in on the growing controversy surrounding dancehall veteran O’Neil ‘Elephant Man’ Bryan, revealing she was brought to tears after watching footage of him pushing his longtime associate Fahya off stage during a recent performance. In an emotional social media post, Etana questioned how someone who had spent years promoting Elephant Man’s music could be treated in such a manner, adding fresh fuel to the backlash surrounding the now-viral incident.
“When I see what Elephant man do to Fahya I cried!!! Elephant man must have not been well mentally. I’m not bashing Elephant but Fahya spend many years of his life promoting his music. No matter what happened between them I cannot see how you can treat an elder like that. Painful to watch. 😭 cyan throw an elderly man off the stage like that for no reason whatsoever!” Etana wrote on Threads. Her remarks have resonated with many fans, with several members of Jamaica’s entertainment fraternity also expressing disappointment over the incident. The singer’s reference to Elephant Man’s mental state reflects her personal opinion and was made as part of her emotional reaction to the footage.
The controversy comes days after videos surfaced online showing Elephant Man removing both Fahya and a videographer from the stage during his performance at Dream Weekend’s YUSH party in Montego Bay, St James. The incident involving videographer Dario Shields has since taken on legal implications after his attorneys demanded a public apology and disclosed that legal action is being considered. Meanwhile, the moment involving Fahya has sparked a separate conversation about respect for elders and the treatment of individuals who have supported artistes throughout their careers.
In response to the mounting criticism, Elephant Man has maintained that the interaction with Fahya was staged and insisted he apologised to videographer Dario Shields following their on-stage encounter. Fahya also appeared alongside the dancehall entertainer in a video, dismissing reports that he had been injured during the incident. Despite those explanations, public debate continues to intensify as more figures from the reggae and dancehall community weigh in on the controversy.
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