Boosie Annual Black And White Party Shutdown By Baton Rouge Mayor

The annual Black & White Affair, hosted by Boosie Badazz was suppose to go down yesterday evening in his hometown at The River Center, but according to HotNewHipHop the party was shutdown the "BR" city officials. The Black & White Affair has become a staple in the city and has been going on, without incident, for the past 13-years. 

As a matter of fact, this is a formal attire, high-end themed event  and has been hosted in elite venues throughout the city.  This would have been it's 2nd time at The River Center and in the past the annual event took place at the Camelot Club, Renaissance Hotel on Bluebonnet Boulevard and the Atrium at the Belle of Baton Rouge.

Party organizer, T.J. Jackson with Perfect 10 Productions, was informed the annual celebration would not be taking place by the mayors office and was given the unfortunate task of announcing the news to the hundreds of party goers anticipating the big event.

Jackson took to Instagram and posted the following message:

According to Jackson, city officials felt the party would bring about violence saying, "They did mention that there are some concerns because of Boosie,” he added. “They said they think it might be a threat of danger of violence, and they don’t want that to split open to downtown."

Speaking up for Boosie Jackson said, "He loves Baton Rouge dearly," he continued, "but that’s why he moved from here, so he wouldn’t have to deal with this type of scrutiny and judgment."

The Advocate reports, not all Baton Rouge lawmakers were on board with the cancellation and actually criticized Mayor Kip Holden’s office for the last-minute decision to shut the event down.  Three days before the event, East Baton Rouge city-parish government officials said they had unspecified security concerns about the event and pulled the plug.

Noted officials such as state Rep. Edward C. “Ted” James II, D-Baton Rouge, commented on the way this was handled saying, “As a lawyer, it’s clearly a breach of contract.” According to The Advocate the state Rep.argued, the Mayor’s Office should have explained exactly what the security concerns were.  He reasoned, “I have the utmost confidence in our police. I know that they could handle a crowd of 2,000 if they can handle a crowd of 100,000.”

As you can imagine, thousands of dollars have been lost in advertising, venue, decorations and ticket expenses.  Perfect 10 Productions, is currently looking for some form of compensation from the city in that regard.  The companies attorney, Chris Alexander, said as of Friday no agreements had been reached.

Alexander stated, “I had a fruitful and respectful discussion with the Parish Attorney’s Office today,” he added. “We are in discussions about trying to resolve this matter and are compiling documentation to that end to provide to them.”

In an attempt to allow the event to take place Alexander filed a petition in state court Thursday on behalf of his client, asking for a temporary restraining order.  However his request was denied.

The Advocate reports, Holden’s office has refused to respond to repeated requests for comment on his decision and this has provoked strong reactions from other Baton Rouge politicians.

Baton Rouge Metro Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle is another official who's speaking out.  Marcelle said, “Shame on the city.  If I were going to the event, and I bought a ball dress, then I’m mad. What are we saying to African-American people in our community, that you can’t have an event? That you can’t have a rapper there?”

Like many others, Marcelle also contacted the Mayor’s Office for a legit reason for the cancellation.  She said, “I was told they had a call that came in and it was a threat on Lil Boosie and there was going to be gunfire at the event,” she said. “Do I believe that? No.”

Gary Chambers, publisher of a popular local blog called The Rouge Collection, said Holden’s decision to cancel the event has failed the black community.

Chambers said, “He’s cracking on black businesses because tons of black businesses profit off of the Black and White Affair,” He argued. “There was an opportunity here for small-business owners throughout this city to make money that they would otherwise not have made this weekend. The mayor’s No. 1 job is to worry about economic development and not just economic development in certain segments of our community.”