Social media rape attitudes towards women in spotlight again as Coronation Street star is suspended over YouTube videos
Bosses of TV soap Coronation Street have suspended actor Chris Fountain after he was revealed as the identity behind rapper ‘The Phantom’ and had posted videos on YouTube with lyrics about rape and violence.
Suspended: Coronation Street star Chris Fountain
The 25 year old, who plays Tommy Duckworth, said he’d made the videos over a year ago as a musical experiment but an ITV spokesperson said the content was “totally unacceptable”.
According to the Independent, the lyrics included: “I will f*ck anybody up in the worst way, rape a b*tch on her birthday” and “I’m a mother*cking demon, I’ll stab you in the face with a diseased needle.”
In the videos, Fountain wore a Halloween-style mask with a baseball cap and hoodie to hide his identity.
Fountain released a statement apologising for the videos.
“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.”
A spokeswoman for Coronation Street added that further enquiries would take place into the matter.
The incident adds to a stream of high profile stories examining the way in which women are treated on social media platforms. Last month, Caroline Criado-Perez became the first of a string of women targeted with rape threats after her part in a successful campaign to have a woman adorn a British banknote.
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