British man cannot get a passport because his name is too rude

A British man has reportedly been knocked back from getting a passport three times in a row, because his surname is ‘too rude’.

After changing his name, Kenny Kennard, 33, is no longer allowed to travel overseas. Authorities have told him that due to his name being too offensive it cannot be printed on a passport.

This comes after he changed his name from Kennard to “Fu-Kennard”, reportedly as a ‘joke’ several years ago. He’s been refused a passport on the grounds that his name could “cause offence”.

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

“When I had to apply for a driving licence, 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 offence or was vulgar.”

After filing three complaints, and receiving as many knock-backs, ‘Fu-Kennard’ was told that if he wanted to take the matter further he would need to contact his local MP.

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“So I wrote to MP Scott Mann, and he replied saying they’re within their remit to refuse,” Fu-Kennard said.

Apparently, this isn’t the first time that Fu-Kennard has changed his name. He also had his name changed to ‘Coco-Kenny’ a few years ago but had it changed back to ‘Kenny’ after joining the army.

According to the HM Passport Office, a name can be offensive “on grounds of public offence, on technical grounds, or for trademark or copyright reasons”.

A name can also be deemed a public offence if it causes outrage or offence by including “the use of swear words”, “sexually explicit references”, “inappropriate religious connotation” or if it “is vulgar, offensive, or libellous to an individual” or “makes use of a name of a person living or dead which may cause public concern”.

The HM Passport Office has reportedly told Fu-Kennard that it will only proceed if he changes his name or reverts to his previous surname.

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