And Finally Artist News Beef Of The Week

CMU Beef Of The Week #159: Adam Levine v America (or possibly America v Adam Levine)

By | Published on Friday 31 May 2013

Adam Levine

Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine has caused a bit of bother this week, and not because he fronts one of the worst bands to ever exist. No, it’s because he hates America. Hates it. The whole country. Actively wishes it didn’t exist. He made this announcement on Tuesday’s night’s edition of the US version of ‘The Voice’, on which he is a judge.

Upset that viewers of the show had voted off two of his acts, Levine felt he could contain his rage no more, leapt out of his seat and shouted, “I hate this country!” Well, he might not have leapt out of his seat. As you can see from this clip, the camera wasn’t on him at the time. Also, maybe ‘shout’ is too strong a word. It’s probably more an exasperated mutter. You could even say it was a meaningless utterance of frustration said without thought.

You could say that, or you could do like many Americans online and angrily demand that Levine either apologise, or leave the country, or both.

“I was watching ‘The Voice’ last night, NBC’s singing competition, and I could not believe the words coming out of my flatscreen television”, wrote notoriously impartial news station Fox News’ commentator Todd Starnes, explaining the aftermath. Yeah, he has a flatscreen television. You wanna touch him?

Going on to describe long term Fox News adversary Levine’s almost-whisper as a “hissy fit”, Starnes noted that the singer, a “passionate supporter of President Obama”, had last year “warned the nation in a tweet: ‘Dear America, if you don’t re-elect Barack Obama, I’m gonna lose my shit'”.

I’m not really sure what that has to do with anything. I think it’s supposed to demonstrate that Levine has held the United States of America in contempt for some time now and can’t wait to see it sunk into the ocean. Especially since its residents failed to elect Barack Obama for a second term. Oh, wait, hang on…

Well, whatever, Levine addressed the situation with the level of attention it deserved – perhaps a little more – tweeting the dictionary definitions of ‘joke’, ‘humourless’, ‘lighthearted’ and ‘misunderstanding’ to his followers – some of whom misunderstood and thought he’d been hacked.

Many of the ones who did know what he was referring to were not placated by his response, taking offence to his highlighting their lack of a sense of humour, and keeping up the pressure. In fact, so strong was the campaign against him that it took less than 24 hours from the broadcast of the off hand remark that kicked it all off for him to issue a full public apology.

In a statement, Levine said: “I obviously love my country very much. My comments last night were made purely out of frustration. Being a part of ‘The Voice’, I am passionately invested in my team and want to see my artists succeed. Last night’s elimination of Judith and Sarah was confusing and downright emotional for me and my comments were made based on my personal dissatisfaction with the results. I am very connected to my artists and know they have long careers ahead, regardless of their outcome on the show”.

Oh America, I love you but you can’t half be a bit of a twat sometimes.



READ MORE ABOUT: | | |