Petition Asks BU To Cancel Robin Thicke Concert Over 'Blurred Lines' Lyrics
BOSTON (CBS) -- An upcoming concert by Robin Thicke at Agganis Arena is getting lots of attention on the Boston University campus, but not everyone is in a rush to get tickets.
More than a thousand people have signed an online petition urging that the March 4 concert be canceled.
The campus organization that started the petition, Humanists of Boston University, claims Thicke's hit song, "Blurred Lines," promotes sexual abuse.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens Reports
Petition Asks BU To Cancel Robin Thicke Concert Over 'Blurred Lines' Lyrics
In their Change.org petition, the group claims Thicke's song "celebrates having sex with women against their will. Lyrics such as, 'I know you want it,' explicitly use non-consensual language. And while watching the extremely explicit video, the insinuations grow from subtle to explicit to obnoxious."
Emily Franco told WBZ-TV's Michelle Roberts she supports cancellation of the concert.
"One in three women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime so even if it doesn't apply to you personally, try to show empathy and understand why other people are upset about it," Franco said.
But other students want the show to go on, saying Thicke's "Blurred Lines" is no more suggestive than songs by many other performers such as Miley Cyrus.
A University spokesman said he respects the beliefs of the students but the concert will still go on.
Petition organizers said they will protest the night of the concert if Thicke takes the stage.
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