"The Ballad of Bobby Pickton" debate and "Sweeney Todd" opens in Cinema's soon.

The debate rages on so I believe it's a good time to respond to what has been happening to me over the last couple weeks. I have been interviewed by APTN and a documentary related to Pickton murders. I have recieved personal calls of support from many friends, and much critcism from the print media and online. I certainly can see why the video has upset people - in fact it was created to cause such effect. I had no idea that it would grow into this, but that's how these things happen. The timing of the event - revealed to grieving family members on the last day of the trial - was not my timimg - and it changed the context of the piece entirely. It was never intended to be seen by people involved, and was intended as a commentary on human nature and our society. It was intended to spark discussion, and I have to say that it has been successful in that regard.

Tina House from APTN asked my why I choose such a topic to make fun of. I told her I was angry that this had happened and nobody cared, and I was in pain myself. So one very dark February night I found myself in my imagination, sitting in the passenger seat of Pickton's truck. That's when I wrote the verses. The idea to make it into a song was to do a take on musicals (Sweeney Todd) and songs (Mack the Knife) that romanticize killers. It would seem you could put anything to music and people would sing along to it.

The Pickton murder case was racist and violent and graphic, and so was the ballad, and I chose to present that. Would anyone have paid attention if it had been nice? Much artistic expression is intended to provoke. There will always be attempts to vilify the performer, and I think its hard for people to believe that comedy is an act, and what they saw was a performance. The brutish way the song was delivered does not represent me personally, but my schtick. It does leave me open to every name in the book - except liar.

I stand by what the piece intended, but I do regret that it has hurt people's feelings, and I would like for people emotionally connected to it to NOT WATCH the video. (Just like I don't tend to read the hate mail). It would seem people would prefer me to do as they do, shut their mouths, and wait for another 50 people to go missing. Just less people to relocate for the Olympics. Happy Holidays - Richard

I also feel for the other Richard Lett, whose number is listed, and no doubt has had to deal with a lot of unwanted phonecalls. Sorry Richard.