TheQuartering [8/23/2023]
The legendary rock band Queen found itself dumped in the middle of the culture wars this week as one of its more bawdy songs was absentfrom its “Greatest Hits” album on a streaming platform meant for children.
On Aug. 11, Universal Music announced it would be sharing a number of music titles to Yoto, which launched in 2015 as a screen-free audio device with content safe for children. “Queen’s Greatest Hits: Volume 1” was one of the titles that would be added to the streaming service.
But when Yoto added the album this week, it did not include “Fat Bottomed Girls,” a cheeky song that includes lyrics about a “naughty nanny” with a “big fat fanny,” as well as “fat bottomed girls,” who “make the rocking world go around.”
The band declined to comment on the decision, but Phil Symes, a spokesman for Queen’s publication arm, Queen Productions, confirmed the removal from the album on Yoto “was agreed with the band ahead of its release.” Universal Music declined to comment.
The choice to wipe “Fat Bottomed Girls” from Yoto drew criticism from Fox News commentators and even Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), who wrote, “They’re trying to cancel Queen? Idiotic.”