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DJ forced to apologise for playing Last Christmas after thousands lose cult game Whamageddon

Potential 7,000 people have been knocked out of Whamageddon game

Holly Evans
Saturday 09 December 2023 09:30 EST
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A DJ has apologised for playing the festive hit Last Christmas by Wham!, knocking more than 7,000 people out of the game Whamageddon.

Those participating in the cult game try to avoid hearing the duoā€™s 1984 hit for as long as possible before Christmas Eve and are eliminated once itā€™s played before them.

It initially appeared around 10 years ago and has grown in popularity, with a website and merchandise spawning from the concept.

The gameā€™s rules state: ā€œWhile we canā€™t stop you from deliberately sending your friends to Whamhalla, the intention is that this is a survival game. Not a Battle Royale.ā€

Ridgeley (left) and Michael on stage in 1986, the year ā€˜Last Christmasā€™ was released
Ridgeley (left) and Michael on stage in 1986, the year ā€˜Last Christmasā€™ was released (PA)

Matt Facer, DJ at Northampton Town, was criticised for playing it during the half-time at the home game against Portsmouth on 2 December, which was attended by 7,215 people.

ā€œI never knew people took it so seriously,ā€ he said.

ā€œI gave it a spin, thinking it would be quite funny to wipe out 7,000 people who couldnā€™t avoid it, but clearly it isnā€™t funny,ā€ he said.

ā€œI had a bit of an insult on Twitter, light-hearted, [saying] it was not a nice thing to do, and apparently that was quite tame to what was being said in the stadium.

ā€œSo I officially apologise to everybody whose Christmas Iā€™ve ruined.ā€

Last Christmas reached number two on its release, finally reaching the top spot on 1 January 2021.

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