'Selos' singer Shaira asks fans to stop bashing Lenka amid copyright issues
Bangsamoro pop singer Shaira appealed to her fans to stop bashing Australian singer-songwriter Lenka as they sort out the copyright issues involving their songs.
In a post on her Facebook page on Friday, March 22, she said that while she understands the sentiments of her fellow Pinoys after her agency's decision to take it down from streaming platforms, the "hate speech" needs to end.
"Nais ko lamang po makiusap sa lahat ng tumatangkilik at sumusuporta sa akin na nakapagkumento o nakapagsalita ng 'di maganda at 'di naaangkop laban kay Idol Lenka na kung maaari lamang ay tigilan na po natin ang pagtuligsa o pambabash sa kanya," she began.
"Naiintindihan ko po ang sentiments niyo dahil sa pagtake down ng kantang Selos, at nagpapasalamat po ako dahil kahit papano ay nandiyan kayo na nagnanais na ipagtanggol ako," she continued.
Shaira noted that Lenka's camp has been talking to them properly since the issue began. "Mabuti at maayos silang kausap, at nakikita namin na ginagawa lamang nila kung ano yung tama at naaayon sa batas."
"Sana po ay matigil na ang mga pambabash or pagspread ng hate speech laban sa kanila bagkus ay ipakita po natin na tayo ay peace loving citizen[s]," she added.
This comes a few days after Shaira's agency, AHS Channel, announced that they have voluntarily removed her viral song on all streaming platforms following Lenka's copyright claim.
The agency explained that the melody used in Selos was originally from Lenka's 2008 song, Trouble is a Friend, though they noted that they are now communicating with her team to make Selos an official cover of her track.
Pinoy social media users have since been leaving comments on Lenka's Instagram posts, with some of them saying that she should thank Moro for making her song famous in the country. Others also noted that she was credited as the owner of the background music of Selos.
Shaira will be releasing her “original music” soon, AHS Channel announced.