After intense backlash from parents, a Labour council leader and a London library are apologizing for a kids’ performance that included a male actor dressed in a costume dubbed the “rainbow dildo butt monkey” — a rainbow colored costume including a fake penis, nipples, and exposed bottom.
“The Redbridge Libraries Summer Reading Challenge run by Redbridge Council in east London set up the event but the library has since apologised for the ‘inappropriate’ costume,” the Daily Mail reported, noting that a “full investigation” has been launched by the council into the apparent use of taxpayers’ money to hire the actor.
Captioning photos of the actor in costume, Twitter user Janice Turner wrote, “I would really love a detailed breakdown of the commissioning process whereby Redbridge council commissioned the Rainbow Dildo Butt Monkey as a means to teach children to read,” The Daily Caller highlighted.
“I mean how many librarian/councillor eyes had to behold the Rainbow Dildo Butt Monkey before he was released into the wild to delight the children of Redbridge?” Turner added.
I mean how many librarian/councillor eyes had to behold the Rainbow Dildo Butt Monkey before he was released into the wild to delight the children of Redbridge? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/SbkDerdDZb
— Janice Turner (@VictoriaPeckham) July 11, 2021
The library issued an apology on Saturday via Twitter.
“During an event put on at the library today there was a performance by a Carnival Arts Company,” the apology started. “Unfortunately one of the animal costumes was inappropriate which we were not aware of at the time of booking. We deeply apologise for the offence caused.”
“This is being looked into and a further statement will be made,” the post continued. “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.”
1/2 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 apologise for the offence caused. This is being looked into
— Redbridge Libraries (@RedbridgeLibs) July 10, 2021
3/3 happen again.
— Redbridge Libraries (@RedbridgeLibs) July 10, 2021
Labour councillor Jas Athwal, too, apologized for the incident, the Mail reported:
Athwal has apologised and tweeted: ‘I was appalled by the incident in Redbridge Libraries on Saturday.
‘Completely inappropriate and deeply offensive performers were hired by independent contractor Vision who manage Redbridge libraries and leisure centres.
‘As soon as I was made aware of the performers, I immediately contacted Vision and the event was stopped.
‘I have launched a full and thorough investigation into how these performers were hired by Vision and will put stringent measures in place to ensure something like this can’t happen again.’
The Mail also noted that the library, before issuing its apology, tweeted, “if you’ve got it, flaunt it.”
Bizarre, sexualized entrainment for children has been creeping into libraries since at least 2016, including so-called Drag Queen Story Hours, as highlighted by The Daily Wire:
[L]eftist organizations have teamed up to bring “Drag Queen Story Hour” to publicly funded schools and libraries in the United States … While the “Drag Queen Story Hours” appear to have begun with the help of San Francisco-based RADAR Productions and New York-based Feminist Press here in the U.S., Canada is also getting in on the action.
Related: Photos Reveal Children Laid On Top Of Drag Queens At Library ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’
Related: Publicly Funded ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ Targets ‘Young Impressionable Children’