Ashanti Web Site Pulled After Protests

Executives at Ashanti's record label have relented to pressure from civil rights leaders over a controversial news report on her Web site, which has been removed from the Internet.

The Web site, made to promote her new single "The Way That I Love You," greeted visitors with a news report about a fake murder spree.

The site's news report, which users can personalize by selecting a "weapon of choice" and "victim," claims to be linked to Ashanti's revenge-themed music video for the single, in which the singer plays a woman who stabs her cheating boyfriend to death.

But the report caused concern among parents and religious heads, and dozens gathered outside the Los Angeles offices of her label Universal/Motown on Tuesday to protest the site's content and demand it be taken down.

And their efforts have proved a success. The whole campaign has been pulled and visitors are being redirected to her official, non-offensive site, reports MTV.com.

A statement released by Universal/Motown bosses reads: "Following discussions with Ashanti, we have jointly decided to remove the TheWayThatILoveYou.com Web site that hosts the Gotchagram (fake report).

"Ashanti and her music have always been about self-empowerment and addressing the issues that are most meaningful to her. We stand by our artist and her creative choices."