PSY apologizes for anti-U.S. protest
South Korean rapper and Internet sensation PSY is apologizing to Americans for participating in anti-U.S. protests several years ago.
Park Jae-sang, who performs as PSY, issued a statement Friday after reports surfaced that he had participated in concerts protesting the U.S. military presence in South Korea during the early stages of the Iraq war.
At a 2004 concert, the “Gangnam Style” rapper performs a song with lyrics about killing “Yankees” who have been torturing Iraqi captives and their families “slowly and painfully.” During a 2002 concert, he smashed a model of a U.S. tank on stage.
“While I’m grateful for the freedom to express one’s self, I’ve learned there are limits to what language is appropriate and I’m deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted,” he wrote in the statement. “I will forever be sorry for any pain I have caused by those words.”
The 34-year-old rapper says the protests were part of a “deeply emotional” reaction to the war and the death of two Korean schoolgirls, who were killed when a U.S. military vehicle hit them as they walked alongside the road.
Brady, Bundchen have another child
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his supermodel wife, Gisele Bundchen, have announced the birth of their second child, a girl named Vivian Lake.
Bundchen announced the birth on her Facebook page, saying their daughter was born at home on Wednesday and is “healthy and full of life.” The couple also have a son, Benjamin, who turns 3 today. Brady also has a 5-year-old son, John, with actress Bridget Moynahan.
Rolling Stones join 12-12-12 lineup
The Rolling Stones will join the artists already booked for next week’s televised Superstorm Sandy benefit show in New York City, which producers said Friday would be the most widely available live concert ever.
The Stones join a trio of 1960s British rock royalty on the bill, including Paul McCartney and The Who. Among the other artists scheduled to appear are Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Eric Clapton, Eddie Vedder, Billy Joel, Roger Waters and Chris Martin.
The “12-12-12” concert at Madison Square Garden will be available on television or online to some 2 billion people, said James Dolan, one of the producers. A total of 34 U.S. television networks have agreed to show the concert, which begins at 4:15 p.m. PST on Wednesday.
The birthday bunch
Actor-director Maximilian Schell is 82. Flutist James Galway is 73. Rock singer-musician Gregg Allman is 65. Reggae singer Toots Hibbert is 64. Actress Kim Basinger is 59. Actress Teri Hatcher is 48. Singer Sinead O’Connor is 46. Actor Dominic Monaghan is 36. Actress AnnaSophia Robb is 19.