Cee Lo Green axed from military base gig after posting controversial rape remarks on Twitter

The singer is banned from performing at the naval concert later this month

Cee Lo Green will no longer be playing at a naval gig in Washington DC after he tweeted offensive remarks about rape (Getty Images)

Cee Lo Green has been axed from the line-up of a forthcoming Washington DC military base gig after his recent controversial comments about rape.

The “Forget You” singer, 40, was due to perform in the city later this month, but organisers banned him when he tweeted a series of posts appearing to define rape as a crime only when the victim is conscious.

Freedom Live, the programming presented by the Naval District Washington, announced their decision on Thursday through a statement on their official Facebook page.

“We seek a department-wide culture of gender dignity and respect where sexual assault is completely eliminated and never tolerated, where sexual assault victims receive compassionate and coordinated support and where offenders are held appropriately accountable,” it read.

“Unfortunately, one of the performers we signed for the JBAB Freedom Live show on 20 September recently posted comments on social media that we consider completely inconsistent with Navy core values.

“Regardless of intent or context, the lack of sensitivity towards an issue that is one of the great challenges facing our Navy is unacceptable.

“We will announce as soon as possible a replacement opening act of the high quality that you expect and deserve.”

Green faced a huge backlash earlier this week when he tweeted that “people who have really been raped remember”.

“If someone is passed out they’re not even with you consciously,” he wrote.

The musician recently pleaded no contest to charges that he gave a woman ecstasy without her consent in 2012. She later claimed to have woken up next to Green unaware of what had happened, but no rape charges were filed due to lack of sufficient evidence.

Green was sentenced to three years’ probation and 45 days community service.

Following a public outcry, Green deleted his offending tweets and published an apology for “comments taken so far out of context”.

“I only intended on a healthy exchange to help heal those who love me from the pain I had already caused from this,” he said. “Please forgive me (…) I’d never condone the harm of any women. Thank you.”