- Soap star seen masked in YouTube videos rapping lyrics 'trivialising' sex attacks
- Fountain was originally suspended by ITV pending further enquiries
- Campaigners vented their fury at 'complete lack of respect for women'
- He issued a repentant statement expressing his 'deep shame'
- ITV have now terminated his contract due to his 'unacceptable comments'
By Kimberley Dadds and Simon Cable
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Coronation Street star Chris Fountain has been axed from the show as a result of an online video in which he delivered a foul-mouthed rap which included lyrics about rape.
The 25-year-old actor was suspended from the show last week after the video came to light and he met programme bosses today to discuss his actions.
ITV said on Monday night that his contract has now been terminated, stating to the Daily Mirror: 'Chris Fountain's contract with ITV has been terminated as a result of the unacceptable comments he made in a number of online clips.'
Controversial: Coronation Street actor Chris Fountain has been umasked as controversial YouTube rapper The Phantom
Show bosses have decided not to edit Chris out of episodes he has already filmed so his character, mechanic Tommy Duckworth, will appear on TV this week.
Last week his fans were left in shock when it was revealed he performed vile raps about rape and violence in a series of YouTube videos.
The TV star was immediately suspended from the ITV soap after the 25-year-old was shown wearing a Halloween mask and using pseudonym The Phantom to spout lyrics about bombing houses and stabbing people in the face with syringes.
He also issued a statement apologising for his actions, stating: 'I would like to sincerely apologise for any offence I have caused. I am deeply ashamed by the lyrics and very much regret my behaviour
'The videos were made over a year ago when I was experimenting with music and I've not done anything like it since and nor will I.'
On the cobbles: Chris Fountain, pictured with co-star Michelle Keegan, has played Tommy Duckworth in Coronation Street since 2011
But over the weekend bosses of the show reportedly urged him to speak out on a television show such as Daybreak or This Morning in a bid to appease fans better.
A source told the Sunday Mirror: 'These videos are disgusting and bosses now need to work out exactly how to handle the situation. But while they are furious, they need to make sure his future is dealt with fairly...
'He is hoping the fact that they are suggesting he might go on TV to make a grovelling apology is a sign that they could see a future for him.'
The source also revealed he may have to make an apology on several TV shows to reach a wide audience, or he might even hold a press conference about the scandal to prove he's sorry.
But they have now made the decision to terminate his contract.
In one distasteful clip, Fountain raps about dragging a girl upstairs, and adds: 'I will **** anybody up in the worst way, rape a b***h on her birthday.'
In another clip the actor performs a stabbing action while he raps: 'I'm a nasty ****, I will punch you in the face and you look like you've been having some acupuncture 'cos my fist is lethal.
'I'm a ******* hero, you've got ******* zero. I'm a mother******* demon, I'll stab you in the face with a needle.'
Fountain, who finished runner-up in the third series of celebrity skating show Dancing On Ice in 2008, also raps about being fed up with fame as he lounges on a sofa with local rap group the West Yorkshire Cypher.
'**** with me and you don't want to risk it, I'll play you like a board game. I'm bored of fame so I'm taking the rap game, remember the name, it's ******* Phantom,' he raps.
Last night a spokesman for support service Rape Crisis said: 'This is yet another shocking example of the hatred directed towards women by some men.
Under fire: The 25-year-old actor has been suspended from Coronation Street 'pending further inquiries' after he was unmasked as The Phantom
'To dignify this with the name "music" does music an injustice, but the far greater injustice is that our young people are subjected to lyrics which encourage sexual violence against women.
'If these violent and hate-filled lyrics were directed against other groups in society, they would be counted as incitement to violence and treated as a crime.'
Faye Maxted, chief executive of The Survivors Trust, said: 'He is a high-profile character. It shows a complete lack of any kind of respect for women at all.'
Coronation Street producers have since suspended him from the show, in which he has played mechanic Tommy Duckworth since 2011.
Lounging: Chris, AKA The Phantom, raps while sat on a sofa with a group of pals. His video has since been removed from YouTube
Out with the lads: Chris Fountain was in high spirits last week when he paid a visit to Eivissa Nightclub in Manchester with a group of pals
An ITV spokesman said: 'ITV finds the language used and the views expressed in this video totally unacceptable. Chris Fountain has been suspended pending further inquiries into this matter.'
The former Hollyoaks star has changed his YouTube privacy settings to try to ensure the five videos – already seen by thousands – can no longer be viewed.
Behind the mask: Chris Fountain has expressed his 'deep shame' at appearing in YouTube videos as masked rapper The Phantom
However, other versions had been uploaded yesterday, meaning they were still widely available for viewing.
An official Twitter account belonging to The Phantom, which reportedly contained a tweet in which he boasts about killing a rap rival, has also been hastily removed.
However, there were still pictures of the actor on the West Yorkshire Cypher website yesterday, among images of members of the group smoking what appear to be cannabis spliffs.
Fountain first came to notice as Justin Burton in Channel 4 teen drama Hollyoaks, before taking part in Dancing On Ice.
In Coronation Street this year his character featured in a prominent storyline when his on-screen girlfriend became a surrogate mother in order to pay her debts.
So different: The actor delighted fans with his skating skills on Dancing on Ice in 2008
Soap star: Chris leaped to fame as teen tearaway Justin Burton in Hollyoaks
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