BBC Apologizes After Playing ‘Hey Joe’ Moments After Reporting On Oscar Pistorius Shooting


BBC 6 Music have had to apologize because they played a Jimi Hendrix song moments after a news report mentioning Oscar Pistorius.

The South African runner is currently being held in prison and is charged with the murder of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius has been accused of premeditated murder, and although he admits to killing her, he maintains that he mistook her for a burglar.

The station then followed a news update on the trial with “Hey Joe” which features the lyrics, “Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand? I’m going out to shoot my old lady, you know I caught her messing around with another man.”

DJ Nemone, who was behind the decks when the song was played, immediately apologised to listeners after the incident, whilst a BBC spokesperson also issued a formal apology for any offence caused.

The statement read, “In light of the nature of the news story, we apologise for any offence caused by the proximity of the song “Hey Joe” to the bulletin. An on-air apology was made immediately the mistake was realised.”

Hendrix’s “Hey Joe” tells the story of a man who is on the run and planning to head to Mexico after shooting his wife. The song has gone on to define the 1960’s and is listed as number 201 on Rolling Stone magazine’s The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and was also named the 22nd greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.

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