Malaysia has banned “Despacito” on state radio and television, though it might be hard to slow the song’s record-breaking popularity.
The ban applies only to government-run radio and TV outlets, not to private stations or YouTube or the music streaming services fueling the song’s success.
Communications Minister Salleh Said Keruak said late Wednesday the song was reviewed and banned because of a public complaint that the lyrics are obscene. He urged private radio stations to censor the song themselves out of sensitivity to local culture.
An Islamic party Amanah has earlier denounced the song and called for it to be kept off Malaysia’s airwaves as many young children were singing the song without understanding the words.
“We respect the right to be entertained but there should be clearer guidelines so that the entertainment does not spoil people but makes them better,” party official Atriza Umar told The Star newspaper.
Source: www.bloomberg.com
