A British singer, and winner of the UK’s 2012 X Factor series, has been sacked by Simon Cowell’s record company after it was revealed that his new song glorifies terrorism.
James Arthur was dropped after the “shocking new track” was released. The Sun reports that the incident was “the final straw that led to music mogul Simon’s decision”.
The song is entitled ‘Follow The Leader’, and features lyrics in which Arthur raps: “I’m gonna blow up your family like I’m a terrorist”.
Arthur has previously been branded a ‘homophobe’ for using the word ‘queer’ in one of his raps. In December 2013 the Daily Mirror reported that he was battling to save his career and the reference. The terrorism reference is believed to have been one step too far for Syco, Simon Cowell’s record label.
But the artist has claimed that the song is meant to be from the point of view of a “demented fan”, which seems to make sense when the full lyrics of the verse are considered:
“Look at what you do to me, I’m crying over stupid s***, you’re such a f***ing homophobe, wish I’d never let you in, to think that I was thinking maybe I should let you live, I’m gonna blow up your family like I’m a terrorist.”
Friends of Arthur have corroborated that the negative reactions in the song are similar to those that the singer has had from members of the public following numerous scandals.
A music insider told The Sun: “It was idiotic for him to invoke images of suicide bombers no matter what the context.
“It’s not the sort of material a mainstream company like Syco or show like The X Factor want to be associated with.”
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