THERE is still uncertainty as to whether of not self-proclaimed King of the Dancehall Beenie Man will appear on the annual Boxing Day reggae festival Sting.

The artiste yesterday released a statement calling on Sting promoter Isaiah Laing to explain what he meant during a recent television interview, when he said he will not perform on the show dubbed 'the greatest one-night reggae festival', if this is not forthcoming.

 "How Laing fi go pon TV and mek dem speech de say we ah old artistes and caan do nothing fi him show? Him no respect the dancehall veterans who help to build the industry in no way. Every year, him attempt fi disrespect we in some way, and mi not doing Sting this year unless Laing come explain to me what him mean by 'old artiste'. If Bounty waan a clash, him haffi link me at some other show," Beenie Man said in a statement.

In response, Laing scoffed at Beenie Man's call for an explanation. "I didn't make such statement. Beenie Man is lying and I would like him to show me the clippings of the interview where I made such remarks," he told Splash via a telephone interview yesterday.

The promoter further stated that he believes Beenie Man doesn't want to perform at the annual show because of the anticipated clash with lyrical rival Bounty Killer, whom he believes is too 'hot' for Beenie Man. "Beenie Man doesn't have a problem with me, clashing against Bounty Killer is his real problem," Laing added .

In his statement Beenie Man also revealed that in the wake of Laing's interview, he was approached by both Elephant Man and Bounty Killer to do a show which they would organise.

"Killer and Ele come to me up at Suzie's and say which part we ah go keep our show. Mi check it out and did a plan fi use Jamalco inna Clarendon and do the show on December 31. And now mi hear Killer ah say mi a run from clash, but mi fraid a Killer, mi nah run, and mi will clash him at another show apart from Sting. Killer bow too much, look how easy him mek Laing bring him in and ah use him fi bring mi in," Beenie Man said.

Beenie Man explained that he is not attempting to fight against the Sting concert which is held on Boxing Day in Jamworld in Portmore.

"Sting is a good show and we need it fi continue fi help buss the next generation of artistes, but mi just no like how dem treat the artistes who inna the industry. Look how me and Killer ah do clash song and ah build a vibes and him come pon TV and just kill the clash song dem right inna the middle of the promotion, and den him ah come draw back fi we after him dun diss we. Mi caan deal wid it no more," Beenie Man said.

Beenie Man left the island on Wednesday to do a two-week European tour.