T.I. Allegedly Shafted By Georgia School
 

A benefit concert at Athens' Clarke Central High School featuring T.I. was unjustly canceled today according to the event's coordinators. Proceeds from the event were to be donated to Expert reader, a literacy promotion non-profit organization.

Though the show was rescheduled for November, the concert promoters are doubtful about the reasons given for the cancellation. According to e-mail correspondence between Mayhem Entertainment's Candrall Heard, the event's promoter and CCHS Athletic Director Jon Ward, the school wasn't aware of T.I's live performance and therefore didn't have proper security in place for the event. Ward also claimed that he only found out about the concert a week before it was to take place and that the advertisement on the flyers were different from the planned event.

According to Heard, CCHS Principal Maxine Eason went even further stating she "didn't want a person like that in her gym and the elements a person like that brings." Eason denied Heard's allegation and dismissed his claims as "totally inaccurate."

Meanwhile, Eason said that the event was canceled because Expert Reader didn't meet the contract's requirements, which mandated that security be provided for the concert. Though Heard then assured that security would be sought for the event, the show remained canceled.

According to Heard, T.I had altered his songs to fit the school's setting and even agreed to hit the stage for one third of his regular fee because the event was charitable. "I'm not even that upset about (Eason) taking back the venue," Heard told Redandblack.com. "I'm upset about the way it was done. We wanted to say we're sorry the event won't take place. The kids in this community have been let down. If we had brought Justin Timberlake, we never would have had this problem.