Boots worker, 62, given final warning for singing viral 'Chicken Banana' children's song at work

From the Newshound archive · first published 24 September 2026.

Maria Clarks, 62, was suspended and handed a final written warning by Boots after a colleague lodged a racism complaint over her singing the 'Chicken Banana' children's song at the Weymouth, Dorset branch. Clarks said staff regularly sang the viral track to pass the time during quiet spells, even using 'banana' as a lighthearted sign-off for prescriptions. She described the moment managers arrived to confront her as one of total disbelief.

'I was gobsmacked when they weren't joking,' Clarks said, adding she felt 'heartbroken, embarrassed and like a criminal.'

The 'Chicken Banana' song was created by Swedish producers in February 2025 and racked up over 250 million YouTube views.

Boots classified the singing as 'inappropriate behaviour' — despite the song featuring a cartoon chicken with a banana body.