Jamelia shrugs off Mobo protests

Jamelia looked every inch a superstar tonight as she arrived for the Mobo awards.

The singer – up for three prizes – drew admiring glances in a revealing orange gown by Dolce and Gabbana.

But her arrival on the red carpet was marred by protesters as the row over homophobic artists continued to rage.

A group of around 30 representatives from the Black Music Council attempted to disrupt the event by chanting and waving banners.

They were there in support of two reggae artists who were dropped from the nominations over lyrics which urged the murder of gay men.

Jamaican stars Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel were kicked off the list following a protest from gay rights groups OutRage!

They booed the arrival of every star at London’s Royal Albert Hall, including Janet Jackson, Brandy and Lemar.

They waved placards reading: “Defend Reggae Music” and “Enraged by OutRage!”

Jamelia, 23, shrugged off the protests and said: “It’s just great to be here and I think it’s important to have awards for black artists.”

The Birmingham-born singer has been nominated for UK act of the year, best single and best video.

Other celebrities arriving at the awards included Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai, star of the new film Bride and Prejudice, and Strictly Come Dancing winner Natasha Kaplinsky.

Peter Tatchell of OutRage! led the campaign to have the two reggae artists banned.

He was not at tonight’s ceremony but said of the protests: “We are appalled that the Black Music Council is defending the right of reggae artists to incite the murder of lesbians and gay men.

“OutRage! defends the right of artists to criticise homosexuality, but free speech does not include the right to commit the criminal offence of incitement to murder.

“The Mobos are to be congratulated for dropping Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel.

“These singers’ lyrics advocated shooting gay people and that is totally unacceptable in a civilised society.”

Double Olympic winner Kelly Holmes went for gold again – this time in £500,000 worth of jewellery.

The athlete arrived wearing a diamond and gold necklace and matching earrings from Boodle and Dunthorne, along with an orange leather dress from celebrity favourite Scott Henshall.