More details emerge regarding Kirin J Callinan’s removal from Laneway 2018

Kirin J Callinan was silently removedfrom the Laneway Festival lineup without any public statement from the festival, but now further details have emerged regarding the move.

Brisbane rapper Miss Blanks has confirmed the decision came after a discussion she had with festival organisers, in which she raised concerns about Callinan’s suitability for the lineup.

Callinan has made a name for himself as an outlandish and eccentric performer, as well as for various outrageous and often lewd acts off-stage, the most recent of which saw him expose his penis at the 2017 ARIA Awards.

Taking to Instagram, Miss Blanks, real name Sian Vandermuelen, said she strongly supported Callinan’s removal from the lineup.

“I believe in the importance of a process of accountability which is why I applaud the organisers of Laneway’s decision to remove Kirin J Callinan from the festival lineup,” she said.

“His long and recent history of reckless and insensitive actions reinforces an entitlement which permits Kirin and others like him to dismiss valid issues, and normalises racism, ableism and sexual assault.

“Amidst the ‘me too’ discussions, it’s important to see preventative actions as well as support systems.”

Miss Blanks also confirmed to triple j’sHack program that the content of her conversation with Laneway was the reason Callinan was removed from the lineup.

“I expressed [to Laneway] how I felt, they definitely took that on board, and they had internal conversations besides the one done with me, and it’s led to the decision of Kirin being kicked off the lineup, which is great,” she told Hack.

Laneway’s triple j Unearthed Winner Angie McMahon also threw her support behind the decision to remove Callinan.

“I think it’s a pretty understandable move for festival organisers to take off somebody who is a bit of a risk in terms of offending a lot of people,” she told Hack.

“Flashing your junk in public is probably not beneficial to anyone. You can speak on this positive movement in a really positive way. That’s not what he did.”

For his part, Callinan confirmed in an Instagram post he would no longer be performing at the festival, but failed to elaborate on why.

“To all the kind and inquisitive folk that’a bin reachin out re Laneway – I appreciate the concertn & I’ll address this in time, you have my word,” he said.

“As it stands, I will be no longer performing at Laneway this year.”

Laneway Festival kicks off in in Adelaide on February 2.