ITV bosses claim they had “no choice” but to sack Chris Fountain from Corrie after his sick rapping about rape on the internet.
The shamed actor 25, had a showdown meeting yesterday with shocked producer Stuart Blackburn and other executives who asked him: “What has happened?”.
Fountain, who has played mechanic Tommy *Duckworth since March 2011, failed to defend his decision to post online videos where he posed as masked rapper The Phantom and spouted obscene lyrics.
Bosses made the decision to terminate his contract straight after the meeting.
A senior Corrie source said: “It was the only action we could take. Chris left us no choice with what he has done and this seemed to be appropriate action.
“Everyone at ITV signs contracts which have a code of conduct and Chris is in breach of his.
"These videos were shocking and disgusting and Chris couldn’t defend them. No one could.”
Fountain’s contract was due to last until February, but it has been torn up and it is believed the official reason given could be gross misconduct.
An ITV spokesman confirmed yesterday: “Chris Fountain’s contract with ITV has been terminated as a result of the unacceptable comments he made in a number of online clips.”
Bosses decided they cannot edit out Tommy Duckworth immediately so he will still feature in episodes this week.
Tommy could even survive six to eight weeks as filming on the ITV soap takes place up to two months in advance.
The big problem facing bosses last night was writing him out in a credible storyline.
Our source added: “We started work hours after the meeting to try to make this work.
“Tommy has to go as soon as possible but we have to find a way to make it look like it was planned even though it has happened because of a crisis.”
Ex-Hollyoaks star Fountain told friends he feared the videos could “finish him” as he sweated on his future over the weekend.
In one distasteful clip, he rapped about dragging a girl in pink underwear upstairs and boasted: “I will ******* anybody up in the worst way, rape a b**** on her birthday.”
Another shocking lyric said: “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 *******ing hero, you’ve got *******ing zero. I’m a mother****ing demon, I’ll stab you in the face with a needle.”
On Friday, Fountain released a statement and said: “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.”
Fountain added: “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.”
This is not the first time Corrie has been hit with problems in recent months.
Michael Le Vell, 48, best known as Kevin Webster, is due in Manchester crown court on September 2 to face 19 sex charges.
Veteran actor Bill Roache, 81, who plays Ken Barlow, will face trial in January over allegations of historic sexual offences against five girls.
Both deny the charges against them and are currently off screen as they await trial.
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