A pub singer has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment 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.
Full Article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1380971/Simon-Ledger-arrested-racism-performing-Kung-Fu-Fighting.html
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.
‘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.’
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.
At the bottom of the Daily Mail article is this comment...
"I am 100% pure Chinese, i start hearing this song since early 80s. I did not ever get offended by this song, in fact i like it. What's wrong with the song. What racist it make, unless this Simon change some of the lyrics, this we not sure as we are not there at that time. " - Warthog :), Singapore, 27/4/2011 16:45
BBCZeitgeist Commentary:
Through (obtained) third party emails from Simon Ledger, he makes two claims...
1) He did not make an offensive comment
2) Police report states the Chinese felt offended by the intro of the 'Kung Fu Fighting' song.
If it is 'presumed' his statement is correct, no gesticulation nor racist comment was uttered, it is probable the 'oriental riff' caused offence - a relic from the heydays of orientalist stereotyping.
But objectively, we don't have access to police reports and the Chinese victim has not come forward with his story.
In any case, the manner in which Simon Ledger defended himself is tasteless, rather than taking a defensive stance, he should have acknowledged the victim's perspective by saying something along the lines of..."I didn't know it was offensive, but I realise now that it can be construed as racist, therefore I won't perform the song any more," in contrast, he milked the situation, even performing the song with Carl Douglas, it is further mocking Chinese that feel offended by the song.
He fails to understand the nature of harassment, it is subjective, the victim's perspective needs consideration, however he is not interested in the victims perspective, rather he is claiming to be the victim. No perpetrator will say... "Yes, I'm a racist, I like harassing people." He has reiterated...
"I love Chinese people, I love China etc."
So this is his way of showing how much he appreciates Chinese by performing an oriental riff?
This incident is a victory for casual racists who will use the Ledger case as a precedent to plead innocent to any form of harassment or abuse directed towards Chinese people, they know that in future, they can go to the press with a Simon Ledger re-run, thus applying public pressure to drop the case. The press never asks nor consults the Chinese community for their opinion on any incident of racism towards the Chinese. It confirms what we have known for decades, Chinese are still open season to casual racism.
The English press are misreporting this incident. The singer must have targeted or singled out the Chinese passerby whilst he performed the song, that is the nature of racial harrassment. Singing the song alone is unlikely to warrant an arrest.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, cluelessness of the pub singer is equally matched by the Singapore FOB commentator, neither of whom understand the context of this song, its period nor the concept of racial stereotyping. White and Blacks have been getting away with this kind of casual racism against Chinese for decades, I applaud the Chinese passerby's for reporting this incident and the police for actually taking an incident of racially aggravated harassment seriously - for once. This example should give Chinese people more confidence in reporting such incidents in the future.
I was reading Simon Ledger's facebook post (friend of a friend of a friend etc.) - after release from bail he made an extremely, undeniably racist comment towards the Chinese couple. There should be no doubt over his true feelings. Unfortunately the police are still inherently racist, especially with regards to the Chinese - how would they understand what is hurtful or not, they are white after all - so Ledger is free to continue his mockery of the Chinese.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, the media (as always) are grossly misreporting the story. I have read the front page story from The Sun and the Daily Mail (those fine media establishments) and it is essentially a free propaganda piece for Simon Ledger - there were 3 sources, him, the bar manager (who employed Ledger - go figure) and the police with their usual "we arrested so and so". Of course Simon gave a nice, PC response "My best friends' are black, I haven't a racist bone in my body, I was ordering chicken chow mein in a chinese takeaway - so how can I be racist?" - the standard bullshit that all but white people cannot see through - and as a result he got off scot free.
Like the blacks and asians before, the chinese before long will have no option but to use aggression in order to get justice and be respected.
what exactly did he say to the couple? what was his exact words on Facebook?
ReplyDeleteCheck out the self-haters who allowed him to perform in their restaurant for a few bucks: http://www.daylife.com/article/09SEab3bU96tW?__site=daylife
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, can you take a screenshot of his comments?
ReplyDeleteI have just read 'The Sun' article, these restaurants have their PR image to consider, if the mainstream press approaches them with an opportunity of free advertising they will take it. They have to accomodate their customers, the customer is always right.
ReplyDeleteThose who work, run and manage the restaurants in central London are all first generation FOB's, not only does this group not understand racial stereotyping, they are also the most politically passive and subserviant of all the Chinese in Britain.
Lets subvert it:
"Harbour City Chinese restaurant, London's Soho." - Don't eat there.
I found his facebook
ReplyDeletefacebook.com/SimonLedgeriow
But updates are hidden. He has 2,500 friends, I couldn't see anyone who was Chinese on his friends list...no surprise there then.
‘Race hate’ singer records kung-fu record
ReplyDeletehttp://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/race-hate-singer-records-kungfu-record-38601.aspx
"He has also been in touch with representatives of martial artist Jackie Chan."
Extraordinary...
We need to form a solid UK anti-racist Chinese group of about 3 people with an online media presence. I think this should be the main goal / outcome of this blog. We dont need funding, we just need to speak out against Racism. Actually we need to be start being openly racist ourselves, because thats the only way we get respect. So obviously im not talking whiny or bitchy or apologetic but full out malcome x style. Because so far its just pathetic. And i really dont care for the Chinese brits or any Chinese whores. We just need to be 3 people who will do it for ourselves consistently. Thats how we get the ball rolling and others will pick up on it. People will balls always get respect. Thats the bottom line.
ReplyDelete