Controversial French singer Bertrand Cantat has been dropped from a theatre production in Canada following outrage from campaign groups.
The Noir Desir frontman was jailed in 2004 for "murder committed with indirect intent" after attacking his girlfriend, and served three years behind bars before he was released on parole in 2007.
Cantat has since embarked on an acting career and signed up for a role in a classical Greek tragedy at Montreal's Le Theatre du Nouveau Monde.
His casting drew criticism from activists, but theatre chiefs were quick to defend Cantat's involvement in the play, saying, "I think we can give him a second chance."
However, the controversy appears to have proved too much for bosses at the venue, who have announced Cantat is no longer slated to appear in the play, according to the Afp.
Artistic director Lorraine Pintal says they will either cancel the 2012 shows or present them without Cantat.