'Glee' Song Upsets Fans: Paltrow Covers Song by Convicted Child Molestor Gary Glitter; Singer to Receive Royalties
by Elizabeth Sexton
Gwyneth Paltow’s performance on “Glee” is causing controversy, as fans realize one of her covers will make money for a convicted sex offender.
“Glee” is taking heat for featuring a song by shamed pop star Gary Glitter. During Tuesday’s episode entitled “Sexy,” Gwyneth Paltrow played a substitute teacher, Holly Holiday. While teaching the high school students sex education, she sung Glitter’s 1973 track “Do You Wanna Touch Me? (Oh Yeah).”
Fans immediately took note. As one fan commented “So convicted child molester Gary Glitter is going to get royalties from a song about inappropriate touching. Nice going, Glee.”
Glitter, 66, served three years in a Vietnam prison for sexually assaulting two young girls and is blacklisted on UK airwaves. Television executives in the UK are considering cutting the Gwyneth’s scene when the episode airs next month.
As it stands, Glitter could earn thousands of dollars (an estimated £100,000) in royalties from the cover, which is available on iTunes.