I used to love the Carl Douglas song "Kung Fu Fighting". Brit Simon Ledger (34) still does; he sings the disco classic as part of his set at the Driftwood Beach Bar in Sandown, Isle of Wight. But who knows if he'll continue singing the funky, 1974 'Number 1' song after being arrested for racial abuse. Yes, some 32-year-old guy of Chinese descent took offense to the song as he passed by the pub with his mum. According to Ledger the guy called them "..w*****s and did the hand sign", then took a cell phone pic of Simon, called the police and Ledger was arrested at a Chinese restaurant. He is now being investigated for "...an allegation of racially-aggravated harassment."
Racially aggravated harassment? Good grief.
And now, because of some bizarrely oversensitive individual, and a country that is way over the top when it comes to political correctness, Ledger could wind up with a criminal record for no valid reason whatsoever. Simon claims this is the first time anyone of Chinese descent has ever been offended by the pretty innocuous song, and that people usually love it.
At first he thought "it was a joke" but no, the police were very serious. Ledger added that "They seemed pretty amazed but said the law is the law and it was their duty. It's political correctness gone potty." What amazes me is that the police even bothered to investigate an obviously dubious allegation. So now singers have to be aware of offending others with lyrics to the songs they sing? Where will it end? Will they start arresting actors for offending people, too? Simon put it very well: "There are plenty of Welsh people at our shows - does it mean I can't play any Tom Jones?"
Simon has been out on bail, but is now due to speak to police about the whole fiasco. Hopefully, he won't face any criminal action, but in England, who knows.
One has to wonder if there is any hope at all for the UK.
Source: The Sun
1 comment:
The British had wanted to prosecute David Carradine for years because of the 1970s TV show, 'Kung Fu.'
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