Contrary to some reports, Virgin Megastore has not pulled Chumbawamba's album Tubthumper from all its shelves following singer Alice Nutter's comments on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher on Tuesday.|

During her appearance on the show last Tuesday, Nutter explained her view that "it's OK to steal from shops" if you don't have enough money to buy something that you really want, like the band's multiplatinum-selling CD, Tubthumper.

On the band's official website, Nutter tells a fan that stealing from chain stores involves few moral dilemmas. "We've no sympathy for the bigger stores," she said. She also said that the Virgin Megastore, which she singled out on the show Tuesday night, is one of the stores they recommend people stealing the album from. "If you get caught just tell the store detective that you have the full support of the band," she said.

Now the Virgin camp is none too pleased and has pulled the album from their display shelves.

"The store was an early supporter of Chumbawamba and this album, and we don't understand why she would say that now," said Christos Garkinos, vice president of marketing for Virgin Megastore in Los Angeles. "It's kind of like a slap in the face. She's allowed to express herself freely, but [her comments] came as a shock to us." Garkinos said that although the album is no longer being prominently displayed, it can still be purchased from the store.

Neither Universal Records nor Bill Maher were available for comment. (Ari Bendersky)