Talk about causing trouble for yourself. I wonder what his license plate says.
A former soldier from the UK who changed his surname to “Fu-Kennard” for a laugh says the joke has backfired — he was denied a passport.

Kenny Fu-Kennard, 33, whose surname used to be Kennard, changed his name in 2016 and even got a driving license under his new moniker.

But when his passport expired and he applied for a new one this year, his application was denied because his name “may cause offense.”

The supermarket worker from Cornwall has contested HM Passport Office’s verdict three times — but the Home Office has refused to budge.

Keen traveler Fu-Kennard said he doesn’t want to change his name again, so faces a life of UK holidays instead.

“I’d decided to change my name to Fu-Kennard a few years back,” he said.

“When I’d had to apply for a driving license, it was accepted fine, so I figured it wouldn’t make much difference in applying for a passport. How wrong I was!

“I got refused on grounds that my name could cause offense or was vulgar. I complained, but they upheld their decision so I complained again. I was then told they’d keep the fee for administration costs.”

Fu-Kennard said he finds it hard to believe the name could be construed as anything but funny and slightly ridiculous.

“It’s just a joke,” he said.

Enlarge ImageKenny Fu-Kennard
Kenny Fu-KennardKenny Fu-Kennard/SWNS
The jokester first changed his name to “Coco Kenny” when he was 16, but after he joined the army at age 19, he said, he was told to change it back because it was “immature.”

After eight years serving his country, Kenny decided to “change it to something with a bit of ‘fun’ about it.”

Knowing that he’d be applying for jobs, he knew to “play it a bit safe” — and settled for “Fu-Kennard” because “not everyone gets the joke.”

“Life’s too short to be boring,” he said.

The official guidelines list a series of “names that may cause outrage or offense” that could be classed as “unacceptable” and not fit for a passport.

They include: “the use of swear words; sexually explicit references; inappropriate religious connotation; is vulgar, offensive, or libelous to an individual; makes use of a name of a person living or dead which may cause public concern.”

The guidance also states: “This applies to phonetic, as well as actual use of words comprising part of or the entire name.”

But Fu-Kennard said he is keeping his surname.

“I don’t want to change it again, especially because they’re restricting my freedom. I like Fu-Kennard.”

THE POST OF COURSE: https://nypost.com/2019/08/07/...of-vulgar-last-name/

Thank Christ they caught that one, can you imagine the carnage if someone were to be caused offense?

So.. What if your real name is something "offensive"

IDK TacFoley should know. It is the UK lots of things are offensive.

Was it a legal (i.e., obtained through a court proceeding) name change? If so, why wasn't it denied back then? If it was not a legal name change, his proper name is what has to go on his passport, so regardless of the reasons for their nixing it, he has no leg to stand on.

Mike Hunt is screwed...

quote:

even got a driving license under his new moniker

McLovin was already taken.

I first thought he was a millenial who married an Asian. You know Sally FU.

Ho Lee Fook!!

Shame he'll never get to eat pho at one of the best places here in Las Vegas. Pho Kim long.

Better change the threat level to Peeved.

So, someone from the government can decide if you are eligible for a passport based on whether they like your name or not? Am I the only one that think something is seriously screwed up about this? What if he was born with that name or what if it's a foreign name that just happens to sound offensive in English?

Well he is a commoner.

I remember attending an industrial controls class with a young man from the Far East (I believe Cambodia) whose given name was Phuc. He was very intelligent and likely headed for a promising career in programming or maintenance. A couple of us took him aside and politely suggested a possible name change might be in his best interest as some of the crustier type maintenance people would likely give him much grief through the years. The instructor stumbled several times when calling on the poor lad so it was becoming obvious that there was going to be an issue for him.

^^^

When I did a stint for the state's Unclaimed Property office, there was a guy named Fuk Yu F. (redacted the rest of guy's name) in the database. I had suspected he was from SE Asia as well.

It must not have been a joke or one of those apocryphal "Orange Jello" names, because the guy had several entries from businesses that owed him stuff.

I have a co-worker that's named Phouc Yuu.

Whenever we have a new employee we have him introduce himself.

It's a real shame that people in the UK don't actually have rights and stuff.

The thing is, it took me a couple minutes to actually figure out what his name said when pronouncing it. Doubt anyone actually even cares.

Anything might be offensive. If you're not being offended by everything, you're not trying hard enough. It's all up to you.

He should have changed it to Fu-Kenntard.

It's one thing if one inadvertently offends but this clown did this on purpose to offend - and succeeded!

Not everything one is free to do is a good idea.