Safety concerns cause Connick cancellation

SYDNEY, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Harry Connick Jr. canceled a Sydney appearance, fearing for his safety following his criticism of a blackface skit, a source close to the U.S. singer says.

The unidentified source said management for the "Your Songs" singer pulled Connick from an appearance at a Sydney shopping center after he faced strong criticism for speaking out against a blackface skit on "Hey Hey It's Saturday," the Sydney Morning Herald reported in its Sunday edition.

Connick was serving as a judge on the Australian TV series when a group of performers donned blackface make-up and afro wigs as part of a performance.

Connick, 42, gave the group a zero for a score and offered criticism of the questionable entertainment routine.

The televised comments from Connick resulted in an unspecified number of abusive comments directed at the U.S. singer appearing online, the Herald said.

"They just decided because of the controversy and the hoo-ha, it probably wasn't a wise thing to do," the source told the Sydney newspaper regarding the cancellation of Connick's recent appearance.