Goodmayes
Public Library in east London wanted to hire someone to encourage children to
read as part of its recent Redbridge Libraries Summer Reading Challenge event.
Unfortunately, the library had to issue an apology after the person hired
turned out to be a performer known online as “Rainbow Dildo Butt Monkey,” a
member of something called the Mandiga Arts Group. RDBM appeared, as is his
wont (and unsurprisingly given his moniker), as a rainbow colored, bare-assed
monkey with a large prosthetic penis which he thrusted at passing vehicles. How
this was related to encouraging kids to read is beyond me, but who am I to
judge?
Pictures
of Rainbow Dildo Butt Monkey went viral, sadly eliciting outrage from some
reactionary, stick-in-the-mud, traditional Christian, homophobic, cisgender,
heterosexual parents. The library has since issued an apology.
The
Standard reported that “Redbridge Council said that they did not arrange the
event and it was organized by Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure (RCL), a
registered charity and a non-profit organization, who have ‘since apologized to
residents’.”
Apparently,
RCL took to Twitter to state: “During an event put
on at the library today there was a performance by a Carnival Arts Company.
Unfortunately, one of the animal costumes was inappropriate which we were not
aware of at the time of booking. We deeply apologize for the offence caused.
This is being looked into. This event was arranged by Vision and not Redbridge
Council. Upon receiving complaints passed on by the Leader and Deputy Leader,
we ceased the performance and are truly apologetic for the distress caused to
residents. This will never happen again.” RCL added: “We never intended to
offend residents. We respect everyone’s individual opinion with no offence to
any part.”
This is mindful of a
Monty Python bit: “We are frightfully sorry for the last sketch and should like
to apologize to everyone in the world.”
This is mind-boggling.
Was the party responsible truly unaware that a rainbow-colored, bare-assed,
‘dildo-monkey’ aimed at influencing children’s behavior could conceivably cause
an uproar?
Did RCL add to its apology by stating, “In
fact, we feel so bad that we have already made plans to cancel the naked, three-peckered,
man-eating zombie we were going to feature at next year’s event.”
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