Even before its release, Todd Phillips‘ R-rated Joker film was the subject of major controversy. Now that it’s screening in cinemas worldwide, it seems some moviegoers have discovered another thing they don’t like about the movie: its soundtrack — or at least one song in particular.
Towards the end of the two-hour psychological thriller, the severely depressed and unpredictably manic Arthur Fleck (portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix) transforms into the sinister Joker, and he is seen dancing to Gary Glitter‘s Rock ‘n’ Roll (Part 2).
Gary Glitter, the former British glam-rock star whose music career saw a great deal of success in the 1970s and ’80s, is also a convicted pedophile.
As a result, a number of upset fans have taken to social media expressing their anger and concern that Glitter would be receiving royalties for having his 1972 sports anthem featured in both the Joker film and its respective soundtrack.
In 2015, Glitter, 75, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for sexually abusing three underage girls in the ’70s.
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He was found guilty in February 2015 of one count of attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13.
The singer was arrested in October 2012 under Operation Yewtree, a national investigation launched by British police in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal surrounding late BBC entertainer Jimmy Savile.
In addition to accusations of glorifying murder, violence, villainy and the “incel” community, Joker is now facing backlash over its use of Glitter’s song.
One social media user tweeted: “I am assuming… Someone who made the decision is also a pedophile and needs to be investigated. This is no coincidence or unthoughtful action,” they added. “Support = support a pedophile.”
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Here’s what some more Twitter users had to say about ‘Joker’:
“They used a Gary Glitter song in Joker… Holy s–t, Americans don’t know about Gary Glitter do they…” one social media user wrote.
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In only its first week, Joker has smashed a number of box office records for Warner Bros.‘.
It also garnered US$248 million worldwide, according to CNN, making it the company’s largest October domestic opening to date.
Joker is now playing in cinemas across Canada.
— With files from the Associated Press