Primus Guma Guma show host denies quit claims

THE host of the ongoing Primus Guma Guma SuperStar, Lion Imanzi, has denied allegations that he has pulled out of the show over controversy surrounding last Saturday’s interview with Young Grace.He said he is scheduled to host the remaining elimination shows.“I’m wondering where people got the information that I was quitting the show,” said Imanzi. “Those are baseless rumours – as a matter of fact, on Saturday, I’ll be hosting the competition’s semi-finals.”Imanzi, a seasoned master of ceremony, who also hosted the first edition of the Primus Guma Guma SuperStar competition, is accused of posing offensive questions to Young Grace, one of the four contestants, during last Saturday’s elimination show.The emcee, however, flatly denied any bad intentions behind his questions.“People twisted my words. My questions were not offensive whatsoever and I didn’t mean to hurt the singer or any member of the public,” said Imanzi.“By asking her about her age and whether she had attracted a lot of votes from the Northern Province, I only wanted to give her an opportunity to explain herself, as many people had complained how she [Young Grace] could have remained in the competition while the likes of Bull Dog and Riderman were eliminated.”Imanzi said that he had apologised to the singer and her manager after reading the criticism from the social networking sites and websites.“I apologised to Young Grace and her manager – though she confessed to me that she was not offended by my questions. That it was the media and the public trying to magnify the situation,” he explained.Imanzi said he takes his work seriously and has no intention of character assassination. The Brand Manager of Primus and Heineken, Jean Pierre Uwizeye, confirmed that Imanzi had not quit the show: “Lion Imanzi is still the host of the Primus Guma Guma SuperStar show. He has apologised to Young Grace and to those who were offended by what he asked during the show.” Young Grace could not be reached for a comment by press time.

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Primus Guma Guma show host denies quit claims