Corrie star’s rap song causes stir
British soap suspends actor Chris Fountain
POSTMEDIA NEWS Beloved British soap opera Coronation Street has itself another self-inflicted wound and public relations nightmare after one of its young stars rapped about rape on YouTube. Actor Chris Fountain — who has played mechanic Tommy Duckworth since 2011 — has been suspended from the Street over a rap song that glorifies violence, rape and perversion.
An “ashamed” Fountain, 25, has now issued an apology.
“I am deeply ashamed by the lyrics and very much regret my be- haviour,” he said. “The videos were made over a year ago when I was experimenting with music and I’ve not done anything like it since, nor will I. I would like to sincerely apologize for any offence I have caused.”
The video showed Fountain dressed in a zombie mask as his alter ego The Phantom. The lyrics are crude: He rapped: “I will f--- anybody up in the worst way, rape a b---- on her birthday.” Another lyric adds: “I’m a f---ing demon, I’ll stab you in the face with a diseased needle.”
Show bosses said: “ITV find the language used and the views expressed in this video totally unacceptable. Chris Fountain has been suspended pending further inquiries into this matter.”
It has been a difficult year for the venerable soap, with a number of former and current cast members finding themselves snared in scandal. Even William Roache (Ken Barlow) and Michael Le Vell (Kevin Webster) has been arrested and charged with a number of child sex offences dating to the 1960s. Others are also facing sex charges and allegations of kickbacks have also surfaced.
Earlier this week, Michelle Keegan (Kylie) accidentally tweeted a spoiler for the show.
The Daily Mirror said “fans have been following the storyline between David Platt and Kylie religiously, but eagle-eyed followers of Michelle now know who the father of her character’s baby is after she inadvertently let it slip.”
Keegan allegedly posted a photo of co-star Jack P. Shepherd but didn’t realize two scripts were in front of him. Before she could delete the photo, a number of fans retweeted the big news.