Obama And Psy Handshake Provokes Wrath Of Twitter
The Obama and Psy handshake that took place just days after the Korean rapper’s anti-American lyrics came to light has provoked outrage on Twitter.
Last week, it was revealed Psy, the Gangnam Style hitmaker who has made almost $8 million from his catchy tongue-in-cheek song, once rapped anti-American lyrics. These included lines (dating from 2004) such as, “Kill those f***ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives.”
Psy has since apologized for the lyrics, but the handshake between the rapper and Obama was always likely to attract criticism from American conservatives.
Right-wing pundits and conservatives have queued up on Twitter to take shots at Obama for daring to fraternize with Psy. The pair met on Sunday at the “Christmas in Washington” charity concert, just two days after Psy’s apology was released.
Previously, commentators have criticized the president for mingling with stars such as Jay-Z (whose lyrics, critics argued, contained “misogyny” and “racism”), while The Atlantic reminds us that Lena Dunham was smeared after making an advert supporting Obama.
In his apology on Friday, Psy stated:
“I understand the sacrifices American servicemen and women have made to protect freedom and democracy in my country and around the world. [The song] was part of a deeply emotional reaction to the war in Iraq and the killing of two Korean schoolgirls that was part of the overall anti-war sentiment shared by others around the world at that time.”
CNN reports the offending song was written after two Korean girls were struck by a US military vehicle.
Regardless of that explanation, Twitter is suitably enraged about the Obama and Psy handshake, with Fox News regular Michelle Malkin leading the way:
The company he keeps ==> RT @twitchyteam Killer photo op: Obama and daughters meet U.S. troop-slay rapper PSY bit.ly/SQFyPB
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) December 10, 2012
Todd Akin was vilified lost the election for say something stupid but PSY rapped abt killing our soldiers Obama shakes his hand #tcot
— KimberlySez (@KimberlySez) December 11, 2012
Obama arrests a guy for making an anti-Muslim video. Obama shakes hand of PSY, Korean who advocated killing Americans. #RedNationRising
— JustSayNo2O (@NObamaChat) December 11, 2012
Rapper Psy for killing American soldiers and their wives. Obama shook his hand last night. We shed OUR blood in N. Korea for his freedom.
— Jeff Isaiah (@SoGoSwell) December 11, 2012
You can listen to Psy’s anti-American rap below. What do you make of Obama shaking Psy’s hand?
