DANCEHALL REGGAE VETERAN HITS INDUSTRY OVER TRAVEL CHANNEL PROFANITY

ATLANTA, July 4, 2008, Noon - One of Dancehall Reggae's most prominent artists is speaking out on the treatment of women in the industry after learning that controversial Travel Channel TV host Anthony Bourdain referred to women as "b***hes" when describing dancehall music in a Jamaican-themed episode of its Emmy-nominated series, "No Reservations."

Veteran Dancehall Reggae artist Nadine Sutherland blasted Bourdain over a brief narration in which he describes dancehall music as he and his crew head to a street performance in Kingston.

"There's no rootsy, laid back Rasta vibe," Bourdain narrates. "This ain't about standing up for your rights or praising Jah or anything like that. Like Reggaetón, its mutant cousin, dancehall is the hardcore beat behind lyrics concerning, for the most part: acquiring possessions, getting respect on the street, beating down perceived enemies and enjoying the physical charms of varied, if not multitudinous, b***ches."

The bleeped-out expletive is spoken while video of black women dancing fills the screen.

Sutherland, whose professional career includes a string of hits after signing with Reggae legend Bob Marley's Tuff Gong record label, quickly denounced the comments.

"I am offended as a woman," she told Redding News Review. "But it's in our culture, that is how we are portrayed by our own men who are supposed to protect us and who are supposed to love us."

Alerted to the matter by Redding News Review, Travel Channel officials said they must "research" the "claim."