An Open Letter To Grant Sharkey, Left Wing Hate Monger & Grim Reaper of Local Live Music

Grant,

As an innocent member of the public who was last week subjected to your left wing hate filled spew-a-thon to which you brought an instrument, I need to set you straight on a few points.

You describe yourself as being outrageous and audacious, those are quite flattering terms and I can see why you chose them, but really… ‘left wing hate monger’ would fit the bill.

Backstory:

You were invited to The Mayor’s Parlour to play music at the official pre-party for the Music In The City, and because only one artist is invited to perform at the event each year it’s quote an honour for a local musician.

The Performance

Rather than perform to take part in helping celebrate true live music, you outright abused the opportunity to promote your own extremist left wing political agenda.

If you don’t subscribe to the bullshit that is ‘passive aggression’, the level of anger which you exuded throughout your performance was palpable, and it was directed at anyone who didn’t share your political view. Anti-capitalism, Anti-money, Anti-conservative.

As a new comer to culture and art, this type of event interested me. And it’s new people that the sector absolutely needs to attract to grow and thrive.

If I’d have known it was going to be a full on political hate rant masquerading as music there’s no way I would have attended. In the future I will be wary of any similar events just in case of a similar occurrence.

Because your depressing extreme views are not shared by the majority of the population you stand to rob genuine artists of the opportunity to be seen because you will be responsible for helping scare audiences away.

Rant Number 1: Council Destruction of Art

You claimed that the council purposefully destroyed a piece of community art that you and some friends had made. Thereafter, you pompously proclaimed the Cultural Quarter to therefore be devoid of culture.

Note to town planners & art officials: No area or building in Southampton maybe considered as cultural unless Grant Sharkey made something that is featured there.

What you failed to mention is that you and your friends took it upon yourselves to ‘decorate’ the large panels which surround the cultural quarter building site without having first asked permission.

In actual fact, it was the developers who removed that which you had put up, so your rant at the council was misplaced.

The crazy thing is that if you had asked them first, the developers would more than likely would have agreed as they are of course building an arts complex!

But you didn’t.

And because you assume that you have a god given right to decorate where ever you please you threw your toys out the pram.

Grow up, and trying being nice for just once… people will help if only you ask.

Rant Number 2: Nando’s Should Be Banned

[Background: Southampton city centre has been re-developed as part of a multi-million redevelopment scheme, but Grant would rather the development have not gone ahead because of commercial private sector investment and his personal dislike of Nando’s]

Nando’s, Costa and Gormet Burger Kitchen will each draw in a huge number of people to the Cultural Quarter in Southampton city centre because people are familiar with, and like/love what they offer.

Even though you clearly have a problem with capitalism and people making money (Except when you’re the one being paid. Solid show of principles by the way… actually cashing the cheque for your performance at the Mayor’s Parlour).

The bigger picture, is that a lot more people will get introduced to the arts complex than if it were purely an arts only location in a non central location.

So how large numbers of people being exposed to art and culture where in any other situation they wouldn’t have is a bad thing, I really don’t know. Well, in short, it isn’t, and you’re clearly not thinking of others if you think it is a bad idea.

The main point of what you fail to realise is that the Cultural Quarter with its flagship Arts Complex is only being made possible because of commercial companies such as Nando’s.

The Cultural Quarter is a working partnership between a private sector developer, The Arts Council and Southampton City Council.

Without commercial tenants, the developer would not invest into the project in the first place. And without them The Arts Council could not have provided additional investment, further added to by the City Council.

The project simply wouldn’t happen unless all three are involved. Everybody wins, including the artists and the public. So your argument truly is invalid.

Grant Sharkey, No Different To A Neo Nazi

You started your performance with “I’m Sorry To Hear That You’re A Racist”. All good, the audience were on side with that.

The principle of not being a racist is something that all level-headed people can connect with.

But that seemingly noble call for harmony and respect for each other was short lived as every song after that was outright anti-capitalism and anti-conservative.

For clarity, the dictionary definition of a racist is someone who believes that they (their race) are superior, as well as fostering the hatred and intolerance to others.

Hate is hate which ever way you look at it. No argument, and it’s a horrible thing for a person to be subjected to that.

So whilst you may not hate people for the colour of their skin, you clearly do hate people who embrace the freedoms of a capitalist society and are politically conservative.

In that song “I’m Sorry To Hear That You’re A Racist” you describe and decry a neo-nazi football hooligan who goes red in the face whilst billowing hate.

What’s laughable however is you went on to do exactly the same….

Your last song was yet another anti-capitalist/conservative rant, but this time you sang the entire song directly at the lady Mayor, Linda Norris, staring, glaring at her the whole time.

And just like your fictitious neo-nazi counter part who you so aptly described, you yourself quite literally went red in the face as your anger went off the charts as you repeatedly shouted the lyrics “FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU!” at her.

So whether you’re shouting that hate at a black African man or a white conservative woman, there is no difference. No difference.

But, the pair of you (extreme left wing Grant Sharkey and the extreme right wing neo-nazi) will of course attempt to rationalise that hate proclaiming that your hate is justified somehow.

It’s not, end of.

It’s interesting that even though your friend recorded your entire performance on her iPad, you edited that last performance out from the video you posted online for the simple reason that it shows you in your true colours and proves that which I mention above.

Aside from the hate itself, quite frankly, you’re a disgusting human being if you can bring yourself to repeatedly shout such vile language directly at such a dignified and very caring lady.

In fact, anyone who can generate and direct that level of anger at a woman is a danger to women as a whole.

Conclusion

Your message is of hate and bile directed at others who don’t share the same beliefs and have the same views as you, which is why you’re a damn hypocrite when it comes to name others as being racists as it’s really a pathetic attempt at misdirection seen as you are the genuine article when it comes to perpetrating hate.

I personally believe in working hard to get where I want in life, and at the same time that I should be free to enjoy the rewards of my success. Work and get rewarded.

Also, if others have different views to yourself.. that’s fine.

Furthermore, I believe that others should be openly encouraged and empowered to do their best, get where they want in life and enjoy the rewards of their success so that they can better provide for their families.

If you were to quit your hypocritical hate rants which you spew so viciously in front of audiences, the world would be one step toward being a better place.

Sincerely,

James Rostance

UPDATE : NOTE TO VENUE MANAGERS

29th September 2018

Two years after posting this Grant tagged me this week in a Facebook conversation where he openly celebrated subjecting a 74 year old woman to aggressive abuse and intimidation.

That woman was the Lady Mayor of Southampton.

Disclosure: Until yesterday I believed the former Mayor of Southampton to be 68 years old at the time of the incident, she was in actual fact 74 years old.

Specifically, his gloating related having squared up, toe to toe, face to face with her during his performance raging “F** YOU! F** YOU! F** YOU!” over and over, directly into her face.

Grant went on record admitting that it was all delivered “with venom at a woman” (his exact words) because he took exception to her position as an authority figure, and he later went on to publically justify that as ‘equality’ (again, the exact term he used).

Regardless of your political beliefs, I would hope that you would NOT in any way share his viewpoint that it is EVER ok to abuse and intimidate a woman. And especially not an elderly woman of 74 years.

Bigots, abusers and fascists ALWAYS have an excuse which they use to justify their actions.

And matters are always made worse for the victims when those excuses are tolerated.

So my question to you is, are you willing to support a man with these beliefs and have him perform at your venue?

Or, are you prepared to take a clear stand against violence towards women in ANY form? and with that reject hosting a man who firmly believes there are exceptions where it MAY be justified.

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Grant along with his supporters they are of the opinion that aggression towards a woman if she is a politician is art, and because of that it is excused.

These excuses are resoundingly similar to Harvey Weinstein’s supporters who also had a raft of justifications for his attitude and actions.

These are the kind of people he entertains, and these would be the kind of people you would be encouraging and helping promote their beliefs.

It’s my firm belief that aggressive abuse of a woman in any form is not in any way justifiable. Period.

I will follow up shortly with a cache of screen shots that I have of our public Facebook conversation to fully evidence Grant’s view point and gloating.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I hope you do what is right by both your conscience as well as what your social media followers and customers would also believe to be right.