Julie Birungi Speaks Out After Artists Snub Her Toronto Concert

Gospel singer Julie Birungi has expressed disappointment after several fellow artists failed to turn up for her Mother’s Day concert in Toronto, an absence she believes was linked to discrimination over her personal life.

Speaking after the show, dubbed An Evening with Julie, Birungi said she was hurt after all the invited guest artists failed to appear, leaving her to perform alongside her children, Ezekiel and Esther.

“You might be wondering why these artists are not here today. It is because I’m different in the way they feel I’m different. These are people I called my friends. We laughed together, cried together, made jokes, and supported each other. But I guess I was wrong,” she said.

“I never needed them, but at the back of my mind, I believed I had friends I could run to whenever I needed them. I guess I was wrong.”

Birungi revealed that some artists initially gave reasons for missing the event before eventually going silent. She believes their withdrawal was connected to how they perceive her.

“You want to love me behind the scenes. I have failed to understand it. You are supposed to show love and spread love, yet you discriminate against people like me,” she said.

“Where are we supposed to go? You are being hypocritical. You want to be with me in private, but you do not want to be seen with me publicly. It is not good.”

She added that the artists had confirmed attendance earlier but pulled out at the last minute, something she believes stemmed from discomfort surrounding her sexuality.

“Why haven’t these artists shown up? Because I am different,” she said.

According to Birungi, preparations for the concert began last year, and she personally reached out to artists she hoped would join her on stage, including Judith Babirye, Vivian Tendo, Jackie Ssenyonjo, and Mr Samuel, among others.

Julie Birungi, formerly known as Julie Mutesasira, is a former pastor’s wife who relocated to Canada, where she later came out and remarried.