Chris Fountain Sacked From ‘Coronation Street’ After Rapping Online About Rape

Actor Chris Fountain, who sparked controversy by rapping about rape in online video clips, has been sacked from the British drama “Coronation Street” where he had enacted the role of mechanic Tommy Duckworth since March 2011, reports said.

The video featuring Fountain as a masked rapper, The Phantom, appeared on YouTube earlier this month where he rapped about rape and violence against women. And, show producer, ITV, was quick to take action by suspending the 25-year-old actor from the show for “unacceptable comments” he made in the online clips.

On Monday, the decision to sack him was finalized after Fountain failed to explain why he made the obscene clips, reports said.

“It was the only action we could take,” a senior “Coronation Street” source told the Mirror. “Chris left us no choice with what he has done and this seemed to be appropriate action. Everyone at ITV signs contracts which have a code of conduct and Chris is in breach of his.”

On Friday, Fountain released a statement elaborating that the said videos were made last year when he was experimenting with music, and that he is ashamed of the lyrics. Fountain added that his biggest regret is not about losing his job, but hurting the sentiments of vulnerable people.

“The lyrics that appeared online were influenced by a style of hiphop that I was experimenting with at a private freestyle session and blurted out in a moment of madness,” Press Association reported Fountain as saying. "There is absolutely no excuse - I take complete responsibility for my actions - but they were in no way thought out or represent at all my attitude towards women, rape and violence," he added.

However, Fountain’s attempts to salvage his reputation and his job by apologizing for his actions did not help, because “these videos were shocking and disgusting and Chris couldn’t defend them,” the source added.