Now we here at Socialism have previously made no bones about our fascination with Otis Ferry, the Icabod Crane alike Parliament raiding huntsmaster. His dad had expressed admiration for his son's "bravery", something that got him booed off at some awards ceremony or other. Fair enough, he's the kid's dad, no matter how bonkers you think he is, you kind of have to say something nice about him. Then this... fuck man, makes you wonder what the hell is in the water over at Ferry towers??? And has anyone told Crispian Mills yet???
From CMU Daily, Tuesday 17th April
FERRY APOLOGISES OVER NAZI COMMENTS
Bryan Ferry has been forced to apologise and make it clear that he's not a Nazi sympathiser, after he made comments in an interview with a German newspaper which expressed admiration for the artistry of the fascist organisation and some of its key exponents. Ferry told newspaper Welt Am Sonntag last month: "The way that the Nazis staged themselves and presented themselves, my Lord! I'm talking about the films of Leni Riefenstahl and the buildings of Albert Speer and the mass marches and the flags - justfantastic. Really beautiful".
Of course, we all know that evil people are as capable of creating beautiful things as nice people, so this shouldn't really have caused a furore, but it has. Following condemnation from a variety of quarters, Ferry has released a statement which read: "I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused by my comments on Nazi iconography, which were solely made from an art history perspective. I, like every right-minded individual, find the Nazi regime, and all it stood for, evil and abhorrent".
The apology was welcomed by Jeremy Newmark, chief executive of the UK's Jewish Leadership Council, who said: "We do welcome the fact that he has issued a swift comment that there was no intention to condone the Nazi regime. Nevertheless, his choice of language was deeply insensitive".
World Jewish Congress vice-president Greville Janner told Reuters: "His apology was total, appropriate and absolutely necessary. I hope that he will never make the same mistake again".
