Kids’ band The Wiggles ‘deeply disappointed’ their music was used to drive away homeless people

Australian kids band the Wiggles are unhappy their song “Hot Potato” was used to discourage homeless people from gathering in a public area near Perth.

“The Wiggles’ music is created to bring joy and happiness to children and families around the world,” the band said in a statement published by ABC News in Australia. “We are deeply disappointed to hear that it is being used in any other way.”

The band’s silly, upbeat 1994 tune was reportedly being played repeatedly at the Graham Bricknell Memorial Music Shell in the western Australia town of Bunbury.

Bunbury’s mayor said officials use looped music as a means of “discouraging people to congregate permanently in an area and to deter antisocial behavior.”

“Hot Potato” seems to be a song largely about food. It’s lyrics include “Whooo, wiggy wiggy wiggy, gimme’ that, gimme’ that, gimme’ that, hoo.”

The song was played outside the band shelter for the past six months, but was reportedly turned off Thursday. Bunbury’s mayor said someone recently entered a storage area housing the area’s sound equipment and turned up its volume. That’s when he said the complaints began.

“The music, it drives us nuts,” one recently released ex-con looking for shelter told ABC News. “We’re getting sick of it.”

Parliamentarian Don Bunch, who represents the area, said he was disappointed local officials would deal with homelessness in an adversarial fashion rather than addressing the issue with more constructive programs.

The Wiggles have seen numerous lineup changes since forming in Sydney in 1991, but that band remains active. Their other hits include “The Shimmie Shake” and “Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car.”

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