Right Said Fred perform anti-Assad version of 'I'm too sexy'
Bashar al-Assad, who is apparently a fan of the group, was given a scathing rendition of the 90s pop classic
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nineties pop group Right Said Fred revisited their classic song I’m Too Sexy to deliver a scathing version of the track especially for Bashar al-Assad, who is apparently a fan of the band.
John Oliver, the British host of Last Week Tonight, invited the duo onto his show to deliver a revamped version of their pop hit especially for the Syrian President. The invitation came two years after leaked emails gave the world a glimpse of Assad’s music taste, including a list of i-Tunes tracks purchased by the President.
Among those were I’m Too Sexy and LMFAO’s Sexy and I Know It, leading Oliver to dismiss Assad as “half-mass murderer and half your creepy sophomore-year roommate”.
He described feeling frustrated at being “powerless” to hurt Assad, before telling the audience: “We could track down, let’s say, Right Said Fred and we could, hypothetically, fly them all the way over here from London to perform a specially re-written anti-Assad version of their greatest hits.
“But would it really be worth all that time and expense just for the momentary catharsis of mildly irritating one of the worst people on the planet?”
Apparently it was, as Right Said Fred then burst on the stage and performed their 1991 No2 with tailored lyrics such as “you’re too awful for this earth, so awful it hurts” and “so please, stop downloading our tracks, here’s your money back”.
Another lyric was amended to: “You’re a monster and we hate your regime, and we think you should be tried for war crimes, yeah for war crimes, for war crimes, you should probably be on trial for war crimes.”
The resounding chorus finished: “You’re an a******, you’re an a******! Please stop listening to our songs” while Oliver danced behind the pair with a sign that read “U R A d*** Assad”.
Tens of thousands of civilians have died in Syria since civil war in the country began in 2011. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that 125,000 people have been killed under the Assad regime.
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
The UN estimated in January 2014 that some 242,000 people were trapped in areas under siege, with more than 200,000 of those besieged by the regime.