Ashanti's Web site is pulled after it hits a sour note

BY GLENN GAMBOA | glenn.gamboa@newsday.com

June 13, 2008

Ashanti and her record label, Universal Motown, have removed a controversial Web site feature that promoted her single, while allowing fans to dream of bloody revenge against people who wronged them, after complaints and protests from civil rights and African-American community groups.

"The Gotchagram" was designed by Universal to promote Ashanti's song "The Way That I Love You," which deals with cheating in relationships. Initially, Ashanti was excited about the idea, calling it "an incredible online viral tool."

"If you have someone you think is cheating on you, you can send them an e-mail blast and customize it and accuse them of maybe not being emotionally available, or you found them cheating on you, or sneaking around with one of your friends," Ashanti told Newsday before the controversy. "And you could send out an e-mail blast with a snippet of my video and it lets them know, 'I know you're cheating' or 'I know you're thinking about it. Cut it out.'"

However, Paul Porter of the Industry Ears media think tank said he was shocked by the violence of the site, which features a fake newscast about a murder victim and the image of the target's name spelled out in blood.

Porter organized a protest outside Universal Motown offices in Los Angeles on Tuesday and was planning to protest Ashanti's singing of the national anthem at Game 5 of the NBA Finals. "There's just too much violence out there," he said. "What shocked me is that it came from Ashanti."

Universal Motown issued a statement yesterday saying that following discussions with Ashanti, they jointly decided to remove the site that hosts "The Gotchagram." "Ashanti and her music have always been about self-empowerment and addressing the issues that are most meaningful to her," the label said. Porter, who grew up in Baldwin, said he was pleased by the decision and would call off other protests against the Glen Cove singer. "I know she does a lot of good things," he said. "And this situation shows that when something is said, something can be done about the use of violence."