As controversies continue to build up effectually Joker , the inclusion of the Gary Glitter song, "Rock and Roll Part 2", on its soundtrack has raised many eyebrows. Despite Joker receiving glowing reviews (amongst some truly poor ones), Joker has had its off-white share of controversies. Information technology'southward inevitable that a motion-picture show like this, i that was designed to button buttons, would become people talking and taking various sides on the contend. However, there is ane issue with the movie that'south united everyone against it. In the pivotal scene where Arthur Bit (played past Joaquin Phoenix) embraces his part equally the Joker and dons the outfit, he does a celebratory dance on the steps to "Rock and Coil Part 2". It's not the scene only the song itself that'southward drawn ire.

Gary Glitter is a former glam stone vocalizer who achieved major success in the 1970s and '80s. For a flow, he and his music were beloved features of sporting events and the British rock scene, but in 1997, he was arrested later on pornographic images of children were discovered on his reckoner and in his home. Then in 1999, he was sentenced to four months in prison and placed on the UK sex offender register. Post-obit his release, he moved to Cuba, then Kingdom of cambodia, where he was detained for his previous offenses earlier beingness deported to Thailand. He after moved to Vietnam and was one time once again arrested for sexual activity offenses featuring underage girls. In 2006, he was tried on charges of committing obscene acts with two girls, aged 10 and 11, so, after being found guilty, sentenced to three years in prison house. He was released in August 2008 and deported to the UK. In 2015, he appeared in court in London defendant of attempted rape, indecent assault, and other sexual offenses confronting three girls between 1975 and 1980. Since 2015, he has been in jail serving a 16-year judgement.

Especially in the Uk, Gary Glitter's downfall is ane of the well-nigh shocking and well-known glory stories of the past several decades. For a whole generation, he's ameliorate known for being a sexual activity offender and pedophile than he is a singer. The option of Joker to accept one of its nearly notable and entertaining scenes – the 1 that's on the poster and highlighted on social media – and score it to a Gary Glitter vocal cannot help but feel extremely misguided on several levels. It'south a strange moment in the moving-picture show for many reasons. On a purely stylistic level, it'southward incongruous with the rest ofJoker'due south musical choices. That may very well be the betoken of the scene, although given how effectively Joker uses songs past artists like Frank Sinatra, equally well as that stunning score by Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, it even so feels like a missed creative opportunity.

In that location's also the very real topic of royalties. Glitter still gets money for the use of his songs and his many convictions don't modify that. Various reports have stated that Glitter may have earned as much every bit £1 meg from royalties alone from the Oasis song "Howdy" which samples of his biggest hits, "Hi, Hello, I'thou Back Again." Utilize of the song "Rock and Curl Part ii" in the NHL has earned Glitter around $250,000, according to a 2014 study by Billboard. You tin yet purchase his songs online. Joker made a lot of money already, and information technology stands to reason that Glitter volition certainly pocket a decent corporeality of greenbacks from the motion-picture show'southward use of that song. The two-minute apply of "Rock and Roll Part 2" could net him hundreds of thousands of pounds, although the bodily amount is unclear and he wouldn't get every penny from the licensing rights.

There's no manner the people involved with making Joker didn't know that this vocal selection would be controversial and ethically problematic given that using the song would require them to permit a convicted sex offender against children to profit from the conclusion. It'southward another Joker controversy the picture show just doesn't need and one that should accept been flagged up many months ago as something that would be universally derided. Even for people who love Joker and that scene, which is a real pinnacle for the movie, tin can't help merely have a bad taste in their mouths over this ill-called option of song.

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About The Author

Kayleigh Donaldson (473 Manufactures Published)

Kayleigh Donaldson is a full-time pop culture and film author from Scotland. A features correspondent to Screen Rant, her work tin also be found regularly on Pajiba and SYFY FANGRRLS. She also co-hosts The Hollywood Read podcast. Her favorite topics include star studies, archetype Hollywood, box office analysis, industry gossip, and caring way too much about the Oscars. She tin can by and large be institute on Twitter at @Ceilidhann.

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