(BIRMINGHAM, MI/USA)...John Akouri today lent his strong support to the many community leaders calling for an open explanation along with demands for an immediate apology from Lebanese singer Assi Helani, for his snubbing of Lebanese & Arab Americans in southeast Michigan on Wednesday. The greater Detroit-area Middle Eastern community had a long planned reception honoring the performer earlier this week in downtown Birmingham. There was to be a presentation of an American flag that was officially flown over the United States Capitol in Washington, DC in honor of the performers near month-long USA tour. But at the last minute, Helani canceled without explanation, making appearances elsewhere later that evening. In the wake of Wednesday's snubbing, Akouri pulled his support from Helani's concerts in Cleveland and Detroit this weekend, and an outraged community organized a boycott.