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Pub singer arrested for racism after Chinese passers-by hear him perform Kung Fu Fighting
By Daily Mail Reporter
A pub singer has been arrested on suspicion of racism for singing the classic chart hit Kung Fu Fighting.
The song, performed by Simon Ledger, 34, is said to have offended two Chinese people as they walked past the bar where he was singing.
The entertainer regularly performs the 1974 number one hit, originally by disco star Carl Douglas, at the Driftwood Beach Bar in Sandown, on the Isle of Wight.
Scroll down for video of Carl Douglas's original version
Entertainer Simon Ledger was singing Kung Fu Fighting as a Chinese man and his mother walked past which later prompted the complaint to the police
Entertainer Simon Ledger was singing Kung Fu Fighting as a Chinese man and his mother walked past which later prompted the complaint to the police
The Driftwood Beach Bar in Sandown, Isle of Wight, where Mr Ledger played the song on Sunday afternoon
The Driftwood Beach Bar in Sandown, Isle of Wight, where Mr Ledger played the song on Sunday afternoon
But after one of the passers-by reported his routine on Sunday afternoon, Mr Ledger was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment.
‘We were performing Kung Fu Fighting, as we do during all our sets,’ he said.
‘People of all races were loving it. Chinese people have never been offended by it before.
‘But this lad walking past with his mum started swearing at us and making obscene hand gestures before taking a picture on his mobile phone.
'We hadn’t even seen them when we started the song. He must have phoned the police.’
Officers later called Mr Ledger while he was eating in a Chinese restaurant to arrange a meeting.
The singer assumed it was a prank – but he was later arrested and is still under investigation.
‘They seemed pretty amazed but said the law is the law and it was their duty,’ he is reported to have said.
‘It’s political correctness gone potty. There are plenty of Welsh people at our shows – does it mean I can’t play any Tom Jones?’
Bar owner Sean Ware told the Sun newspaper: ‘The song is in no way racist and nor is Simon. There is no way he would abuse anyone.
'He didn’t start the song just because Chinese people were walking past. He had already started playing it.’
Mr Ledger, who was later bailed, wrote on Facebook: ‘If the lad who phoned the police is reading this, what is wrong with you?’
A Hampshire police spokesman last night said a 32-year-old man of Chinese origin had claimed he was subjected to racial abuse.
He added: ‘If a victim believes that an alleged crime is racially aggravated, the police will treat it seriously. Investigations into this incident are continuing.’
The spokesman said a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing harassment, alarm or distress under section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986.
The man was not taken to the police station at the time, but was released on bail.
He will visit Newport police station today where he will be interviewed.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1380971/Simon-Ledger-arrested-racism-performing-Kung-Fu-Fighting.html#ixzz1KlYqlUWn
By Daily Mail Reporter
A pub singer has been arrested on suspicion of racism for singing the classic chart hit Kung Fu Fighting.
The song, performed by Simon Ledger, 34, is said to have offended two Chinese people as they walked past the bar where he was singing.
The entertainer regularly performs the 1974 number one hit, originally by disco star Carl Douglas, at the Driftwood Beach Bar in Sandown, on the Isle of Wight.
Scroll down for video of Carl Douglas's original version
Entertainer Simon Ledger was singing Kung Fu Fighting as a Chinese man and his mother walked past which later prompted the complaint to the police
Entertainer Simon Ledger was singing Kung Fu Fighting as a Chinese man and his mother walked past which later prompted the complaint to the police
The Driftwood Beach Bar in Sandown, Isle of Wight, where Mr Ledger played the song on Sunday afternoon
The Driftwood Beach Bar in Sandown, Isle of Wight, where Mr Ledger played the song on Sunday afternoon
But after one of the passers-by reported his routine on Sunday afternoon, Mr Ledger was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment.
‘We were performing Kung Fu Fighting, as we do during all our sets,’ he said.
‘People of all races were loving it. Chinese people have never been offended by it before.
‘But this lad walking past with his mum started swearing at us and making obscene hand gestures before taking a picture on his mobile phone.
'We hadn’t even seen them when we started the song. He must have phoned the police.’
Officers later called Mr Ledger while he was eating in a Chinese restaurant to arrange a meeting.
The singer assumed it was a prank – but he was later arrested and is still under investigation.
‘They seemed pretty amazed but said the law is the law and it was their duty,’ he is reported to have said.
‘It’s political correctness gone potty. There are plenty of Welsh people at our shows – does it mean I can’t play any Tom Jones?’
Bar owner Sean Ware told the Sun newspaper: ‘The song is in no way racist and nor is Simon. There is no way he would abuse anyone.
'He didn’t start the song just because Chinese people were walking past. He had already started playing it.’
Mr Ledger, who was later bailed, wrote on Facebook: ‘If the lad who phoned the police is reading this, what is wrong with you?’
A Hampshire police spokesman last night said a 32-year-old man of Chinese origin had claimed he was subjected to racial abuse.
He added: ‘If a victim believes that an alleged crime is racially aggravated, the police will treat it seriously. Investigations into this incident are continuing.’
The spokesman said a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing harassment, alarm or distress under section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986.
The man was not taken to the police station at the time, but was released on bail.
He will visit Newport police station today where he will be interviewed.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1380971/Simon-Ledger-arrested-racism-performing-Kung-Fu-Fighting.html#ixzz1KlYqlUWn
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