Photo: Wenn
Former Radio One DJ Mike Read has apologised for his Ukip Calypso song and has asked for it to be withdrawn from sale.
Read, who found fame both on Radio One and as an inadvertent publicist for Frankie Goes To Hollywood, had initally defended the track which sees him perform in a toe-curling 'Jafaican' accent. “It was never meant to be remotely racist,” he said. “It’s an old-fashioned political satire … you can’t sing a calypso with a Surrey accent.”
However as The Guardian reports, today he announced he had asked his record company to withdraw the album from sale. Read said: “I’m so sorry that the song unintentionally caused offence. That was never my intention and I apologise unreservedly if anyone has taken offence. I’ve asked the record company to withdraw the single immediately.”
David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, said of the of the song: “[If] we needed any more evidence of the Ukip leadership being tone-deaf elitists, then look no further.”
Our favourite reaction however comes from the BBC Asian Network DJ Nihal who tweeted "The best way to judge if the #ukipcalypso track is racist is to let Mike Reed perform it at @MOBOAwards and see what happens. Please."
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