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Donald Trump 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Protest/Parody Video Removed From Youtube

Donald Trump Brian May QueenGetty | Getty

In the obvious ironies department, Donald Trump has reportedly forced YouTube into shutting down a video that features a puppet portraying him as a bully as he sings Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," says a Scottish group protesting his Aberdeen golf resort.

According to Herald Scotland, the YouTube clip was created last March to protest Trump's plan to create a £750 million ($1.191 billion US) golf resort in Aberdeenshire. Queen guitarist Brian May initially gave the protesters his blessing to use the song in the video and continues to do so.

"This is a story of destruction and greed, a story of lies and treachery, of how one man has used power and money to diminish the TRUTH," the caption read introducing the video. "Ladies and Gentleman, Mr. Donald Trump sings a song of relentless determination and unparalleled ego in his battle for the 'The Great Dunes of Scotland.'"

The Herald Scotland said the clip -- which had a Spitting Image-like version of Trump -- is no longer available. While nothing has been confirmed, the clip's removal might be the result of a complaint from Trump, or it might in relation to publicity plans to release the song as a single much in the way Rage Against the Machine topped the U.K. charts in 2009 with "Killing in the Name Of" to combat X Factor contestants. STV reported last week the song was posted on iTunes as well as Amazon.

"We have decided to bring it out as a single, to keep the momentum going, because the whole issue [of Trump's relationship with the Scottish Government] has been revived recently, with the screening of [Anthony Baxter's documentary] You've Been Trumped," Cameron said. "This has sparked a huge amount of interest and we hope people will check out the single."

Sarah Malone, executive vice-president of Trump International Golf Links Scotland, said Trump hadn't complained about the video. "It had nothing to do with us and we couldn't care less about the song," she said.

Last week STV reported Malone being more forceful in her response.

"This is a tired, rehashed publicity stunt which further reinforces the lack of credibility of the small group of detractors behind it," she said. "It only serves to hurt the reputation of Scotland and its people."

"I honestly believe a complaint has come from Trump or someone on his behalf," Hazel Cameron, a Edinburgh poet who had a hand in the video's creation, told Herald Scotland. "It must have come from him. He must be unhappy about the video, and he must have complained about it. We wanted to get the video back in the mainstream again and to bring more attention to what has happened."

The video -- which was originally removed in March after 29,000 views -- was uploaded again and reportedly had over 3,000 hits but last Thursday evening (Nov. 15) was again removed, stating it was "in violation" of YouTube guidelines and "inappropriate." YouTube said the video was removed over a copyright infringement complaint but said users can "appeal the copyright takedown."

Cameron feels copyright isn't the issue... especially considering Brian May had endorsed it.

"I've had confirmation from YouTube that the copyright was all above board, and there was even a personal letter from Brian May saying that I have his blessing," she says. "I think the whole thing is shocking. It was also removed from iTunes without notification or explanation."

Although it's not a businessman battling protestors, YouTube has previously removed videos on behalf of musicians. In 2008, EMI forced the site to remove a video mashup of Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" and Joe Satriani's "If I Could Fly." And last April video of Robert Wilkinson, a drunk man who was singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" from the back seat of a police car in Alberta, was removed by EMI due to copyright. The video quickly became a viral hit.

On a related note, it'll be interesting to see what the reaction is to the video appearing on other hosting sites...

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hazel.cameron

The above is in the main correct, apart from the fact that after complying with copyright legislation, YouTube restored the video in April and it has been there since, it was only on release of the single that it was removed again because it was receiving attention in the press - this is about stunting the momentum. The drunk guy singing Bohemian Rhapsody is licensed by EMI as are many other parodies and covers (not all something Freddie might be proud of) - Brian May had the video removed from his own website by Youtube! People have to ask why EMI would go against Brian May's wishes twice to remove this video from the public domain? (They removed several copies in one day from Youtube and Vimeo)

November 19 2012 at 5:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply