Don’t mess with U.S. patriotism.
British pop star George Michael may be learning that lesson the hard way. In an interview with Britain’s ITV, which airs this Friday, Michael admits his life might be in danger if he were to return to the U.S., where there has been tremendous public outcry over his newest single “Shoot the Dog,” Reuters reports.
The song makes fun of the U.S. response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as well as the relationship between the U.S. and Britain. In the music video, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is depicted as a poodle being petted by President Bush on the White House front lawn.
Michael tried to answer to a particularly venomous article in the New York Post titled “Pop Perv’s 9/11 Slur” after the song’s release by giving an interview on CNN, but the results only made things worse.
“I was trying to do some damage control because my life was in danger. Americans are very reactionary right now and I — because of that article — cannot return to America, even though my partner lives there,” he told ITV.
Michael also blames homophobia on his unpopularity in America, especially after his 1998 arrest for exposing himself to a police officer.
“For some reason I don’t have a right to talk about anything because I got caught four years ago with a police offer in a Los Angeles toilet. Somehow that eradicates all possibility that what I’m saying might be for the best or is worthy of being discussed,” he complained to ITV.
“Shoot the Dog” will not be heard in the U.S. since Michael does not currently have an American recording deal.
