Ray Hadley accused of sexism over Sarah Hanson-Young parody song

AUSSIE rockers Youth Group have issued a statement slamming shock jock Ray Hadley for broadcasting a parody of their famous song that demeans Green’s senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

CMNEWS_RAdio broadcaster Ray Hadley pictured in Brisbane today Monday April 27th, 2015. Pictures: Jack Tran / The Courier Mail

SYDNEY band Youth Group have issued a statement castigating shock jock Ray Hadley for broadcasting a parody of their famous song that demeans Green’s senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

The 2GB radio host included the parody of the hit “Forever Young” during an interview with Immigration Minister Peter Dutton on Thursday.

“Sarah Hanson-Young is just the worst ever. She makes Bob Brown look kinda clever,” the lyrics say, before playing an excerpt of comments made by Senator Hanson-Young during a Senate hearing in 2014.

Dutton criticised Senator Hanson-Young last week, calling her “an embarrassment to the country”, and chuckled as the song was played on Thursday.

But Youth Group have failed to see the funny side, issuing a statement to reprimand the shock jock.

Youth Group ... “We do not endorse it”.

“Today we became aware of a parody version of Forever Young denigrating Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young ... This is not our version of the song being used and the music track is a re-recording ...” the statement reads. “We do not endorse it ...”

“That an individual has chosen to appropriate the song in such a way saddens us,” they added.

Youth Group say the parody “denigrates” Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

The band added they were “honoured” that their original song had come to be held dear to many across Australia through its use in so many celebrations and commemorations of loved and lost ones, but said they believed it had come to mean something “quite different, and diametrically opposed, to the ugliness that marks the parody version played by Ray Hadley”.

“We hope that for the many people who have strong feelings about the song, and a place for it in their hearts about a time, place or person, that this ugliness won’t taint those memories.”

They ended the statement by stating their support for Senator Hanson-Young.

“We’re all for a respectful and inclusive Australia, not a divisive and disrespectful one.”