Chris Fountain suspended from Coronation Street over rape song

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog August 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

UPDATE: Radio Times reports that Chris Fountain will still appear as Tommy Duckworth in upcoming Corrie episodes, and not be edited out.
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There's a disturbing story in today's Mirror that says Chris Fountain, who plays Tommy Duckworth, has allegedly been suspended from work at Coronation Street after rapping online about rape.

The Mirror says that in a video posted on YouTube Chris performed in a mask as his alter-ego The Phantom. Wearing a zombie Halloween mask and baseball cap covered by a hoodie he rants about rape and violence.

Chris, who has played mechanic Tommy Duckworth since 2011, said: “I would like to sincerely apologise for any offence I have caused. I am deeply ashamed by the lyrics and very much regret my behaviour. 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.”

A statement from ITV said: "ITV find both the language used and the views expressed in this video totally unacceptable. Chris Fountain has been suspended pending further inquiries into this matter."



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