Over the weekend, “international rock ‘n’ rolling motivational speaking TV entertaining nightclub owner” and avid party starter Andrew W.K. announced that he’d been tapped by the U.S. State Department to serve as cultural ambassador to the Middle East. The singer announced the news on his website:
Andrew says: “This is a tremendous invitation. I’m very thankful to the Department of State for giving me the opportunity to visit a place I’ve never been before. And I feel very privileged and humbled by the chance to represent the United States of America and show the good people of Bahrain the power of positive partying. I can hardly wait for this adventure!”
Shocked by the confusion over my trip to the Middle East? It's NOT fake! I really am going there to party! http://t.co/95BqeWbW
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) November 26, 2012
Some folks weren’t quite sure what to make of the news:
We are sending both Kim Kardashian and Andrew WK to Bahrain as "goodwill ambassadors." My question: Why do we hate Bahrain now?
— Ian Boudreau (@iboudreau) November 26, 2012
Its like the WhiteHouse is playing twitter hashtag games with us. http://t.co/TXYjUalf
— mitrebox (@mitrebox) November 26, 2012
"Andrew WK has been appointed as a Cultural Ambassador to the Middle East by the US Department Of State"… Course he has.
— Liverpool Sound City (@SoundCity) November 26, 2012
But partiers everywhere were thrilled at the prospect of Andrew W.K. sharing his lifestyle with the people of Bahrain:
https://twitter.com/Rawrbby/status/273107894394822656
Absurd albeit awesome! RT@dcist: Get ready to party, Manama! The U.S. State Department is sending @AndrewWK to Bahrain: http://t.co/OnPgAiGW
— Alison Gold (@AKGold11) November 26, 2012
https://twitter.com/aerodax/status/273089943704858625
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https://twitter.com/vvskitty/status/273102768640774144
Let it be known throughout the land that a brony is now the United States cultural ambassador to the Middle East. http://t.co/XOA36RSV
— Kimberly Grey (@verygrey) November 26, 2012
State Dept *should* send @AndrewWK to MidEast as envoy! Folks who PARTY HARD don't kill each other http://t.co/IhalWNJV
— Nick Gillespie (@nickgillespie) November 26, 2012
Sadly, the excitement was short-lived.
One bright spot: we might have to see a tweet from @statedept disavowing itself from all relations to @AndrewWK. They don't party at State.
— Andy Carvin (@acarvin) November 26, 2012
Evidently they do not. Today, it was revealed that the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain officially rescinded the invitation, reportedly after deciding that Andrew W.K. should never have been invited in the first place:
I'm just blown away. After a year of planning, the US State Dept. just canceled my Middle East trip because I'm too party.
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) November 26, 2012
A spokesperson from the State Dept said having me represent the US was “a mistake and not appropriate.” http://t.co/3CLzWjFo
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) November 26, 2012
@JeffQuestad It is not and never was fake. MoJo got it wrong. I have all the paperwork and proof. PARTY HARD, JEFF!
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) November 26, 2012
For the record, the State Department insists that Andrew W.K. had not been selected for the trip to serve in any diplomatic capacity, but only to participate in a “cultural speakers program.” That program has been canceled.
As you’d expect, the fans are extremely disappointed:
@AndrewWK that's ridiculous! What's inappropriate is the State Department reneging
— Thomas Attila Lewis (@TheTVJunkie) November 26, 2012
Noo! RT @AndrewWK I'm just blown away After a year of planning, the US State Dept. just canceled my Middle East trip because I'm too party.
— Ryan Johnson (@RyanJohnsonCO) November 26, 2012
https://twitter.com/mattreedah/status/273150240415166464
@AndrewWK what is this outrage!!!!!!
— Edgar Allan Joe (@Edgar_Allan_Joe) November 26, 2012
@AndrewWK they don't want you to party so hard you bring peace to the region. #PartyingIsBetterThanWar
— Tim Shelton (@ShipwreckCity) November 26, 2012
If the UN can make Angie Jolie a special envoy after french kissing her bro, State dept can suck it up and bring the @AndrewWK party
— chris perry (@cperry1848) November 26, 2012
#Congress needs to immediately investigate why @AndrewWK was denied as a 'cultural ambassador' to Bahrain. This is an American tragedy!
— Noah Ginsberg (@NoahGins) November 26, 2012
.@StateDept, sending @AndrewWK to Bahrain was an awesome idea and cancelling the trip, as is now being reported, is a terrible idea.
— Grant Babcock (@GrantBabcock) November 26, 2012
U.S. Lame Department RT @pitchforkmedia: U.S. State Department pulls the plug on @AndrewWK's party trip to Bahrain http://t.co/pZtOjxai
— ⋆Magic⋆Air⋆ (@Giggysan) November 26, 2012
But Andrew W.K. isn’t the type to throw in the towel:
THE POWER OF POSITIVE PARTYING WILL NEVER DIE.
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) November 26, 2012
@PhillTheEPIC Thank you, Phill! We are standing together and fighting for awesomeness, kindness, and partiness!
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) November 26, 2012
@KenoshaKid Thank you for standing with me, Kid!!! PARTY HARD!!!
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) November 26, 2012
@kylejacksonga Thank you, Kyle! You are keeping this party alive! TOGETHER WE WILL STAY STRONG! #PartyingIsBetterThanWar
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) November 26, 2012
PARTY TIP: Failure isn't falling down. Failure is staying down when you still have the ability to get back up.
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) November 26, 2012
@kerensacadenas Don't be sad, Kerensa! They might cancel the party in the Middle East, but they can never cancel the party in our hearts!
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) November 26, 2012
So true.
***
Update:
THIS IS REAL: Official excerpt from today's State Dept. press conference about my Middle East party mission: http://t.co/xz8D8gBn
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) November 26, 2012
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