If professional partyer and sometime musician Andrew W.K. still wants to share his message of “joy, excitement and positive celebration” with the Middle East, he’ll have to get there without any help from Uncle Sam.
The artist recently set the Internet aflame by unilaterally announcing his appointment as “a cultural ambassador of partying” to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“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,” the artist known for the songs “Party Hard,” “It’s Time to Party” and “Long Live the Party” posted on his website Saturday.
Media reports saying the State Department had rescinded any such offer cropped up not 24 hours later — marking what we believe to be the shortest diplomatic tenure ever. Official word came on Monday, along with a convoluted explanation of how the thrill-seeking songster flamed out so fabulously.
“We had a Bahraini entity that approached the embassy about co-sponsoring a visit by this guy. That was initially approved. … And then when more senior management at the embassy took a look at this, the conclusion was that this was not an appropriate use of U.S. government funds,” a State spokesman explained, adding, “He is not going to be going to Bahrain on the U.S. government’s dime.”
Andrew W.K. attempted to stay positive throughout the conflicting reports but has since accepted his fate.
“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,” he tweeted Monday.
