Shocked says alleged anti-gay comments were misinterpreted

SAN FRANCISCO -- A Grammy-nominated folk singer who reportedly made anti-gay comments at a San Francisco concert venue on Sunday released a statement today proclaiming her support for the LGBT community.

Michelle Shocked, whose career started in the 1980s, reportedly said "God hates fags" and made other anti-gay comments during a show at Yoshi's in San Francisco's Fillmore District, drawing controversy and the cancellation of all upcoming dates on her tour.

Officials from Yoshi's also said Shocked would never be invited back to their venue.

Shocked said in the statement that she was misinterpreted by the Yoshi's audience, some of whom wrote on social media about the comments.

"I do not, nor have I ever, said or believed that God hates homosexuals," Shocked said.

She said when she told fans, "Twitter that Michelle Shocked says 'God hates faggots,'" she was "predicting the absurd way my description of, my apology for, the intolerant would no doubt be misinterpreted."

Shocked said, "To those fans who are disappointed by what they've heard or think I said, I'm very sorry: I don't always express myself as clearly as I should. But don't believe everything you read on Facebook or Twitter. My view of homosexuality has changed not one iota. I judge not."

She said, "If I could repeat the evening, I would make a clearer distinction between a set of beliefs I abhor, and my human sympathy for the folks who hold them."

Nevertheless, the singer's comments at Yoshi's prompted concert organizers to cancel all upcoming shows on Shocked's U.S. tour, according to the website of John M. Becker, who created a Change.org petition encouraging the venues to cancel her shows.

The upcoming concerts included ones in Santa Cruz and Novato.

Shocked's statement Wednesday also did little to assuage angered fans on social media.

One person wrote on Twitter, "Sorry Michelle Shocked but some vague PR letter doesn't get you off the hook. It's over. You're done."

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