I'm a bit shocked that a thread linking to a YouTube video of Antoine Dodson's Bed Intruder song was reported, then deleted, last night.
Some people seemed to think the song is a funny song about rape. It isn't.
It's a song made by auto-tuning Antoine's angry rant about his sister's attempted rapist, which was recorded by a local news station in Alabama.
The whole story has been controversial for many reasons - debates have flared on whether the TV station was racist for broadcasting what some called a stereotype. Others (station included) say not broadcasting it would have been censorship (I tend to agree). Some people believe the attempted rape never occurred (big shocker that, huh).
Dodson himself contacted the media after his sister's attempts to get help from the police and a housing officer did not result in the help she deserved.
People thought - for various reasons - his rant was hilarious. He has the x-factor, or whatever you want to call it. The video went viral, the song was made, now high school marching bands etc are performing their own versions of the Bed Intruder song. Antoine has been offered his own reality TV show. It IS a funny song, but - to me at least - it makes clear that rape is NOT ok and that the bed intruder better watch out because justice is coming.
Anyway, here's an article in the [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/15/antoine-dodson-internet-sensation Guardian]...
Here's the original ...
And here's the Bed Intruder .
I can't believe we can't discuss it on Mumsnet. I think we can, in the feminist section.
I'd like to. I think it's an interesting debate.
Can something about rape ever be funny - especially when the message is, watch out rapist, we are going to catch you?