Will.i.am, frontman for the Black Eyed Peas, has apologized after saying at a recent concert in Salthill, Co Galway that “Irish girls are the prettiest girls in the UK.”
The Black Eyed Peas kicked off their summer 2022 tour at Pearse Stadium in Salthill, Co Galway on June 4, but the concert wasn't without a pretty big blunder.
One concertgoer shared a video on Twitter of frontman will.i.am telling the crowd: “I miss coming to Ireland - the Irish girls are the prettiest girls in the UK!"
The comment was first met by cheers that quickly turned over to boos.
"the irish girls are the prettiest girls in the UK" - will I am ? @bep do your homework my guy #ireland not #uk pic.twitter.com/kaKLA7ekpf
— Sharon D Speaker of Selflove (@SharonD_com) June 5, 2022
Plenty of other people chimed in on Twitter calling will.i.am out for the gaffe.
Irish comedian Steve Timothy said how the crowd booed whenever will.i.am mentioned the UK, but then joked that "it's an easy mistake for any Canadian." (will.i.am is from the US.)
Out at the Black Eyed Peas gig out in Salthill and @iamwill keeps saying UK and the crowd are booing! ?? But look, it's an easy mistake for any Canadian.
— Stevo Timothy (@SirStevoTimothy) June 4, 2022
Another concertgoer said that someone should tell the band that Galway isn't in the UK.
Someone tell the black eyed peas that Galway isn’t in the uk #JubileeCelebration
— Len (She/Her) (@lenmcb) June 4, 2022
One attendee said that "it's quite surprising how many musicians / celebrities make the mistake."
The Black Eyed Peas were fantastic in Galway tonight, but somebody needs to tell them Ireland is not in the UK. It’s quite surprising how many musicians/celebrities make the mistake
— Conor Capplis (@conorcapplis) June 4, 2022
This fan said that the group "made three comments about Ireland being in the UK" in a short amount of time:
The Black Eyed Peas have been on for all of 5 mins and https://t.co/vLVFFmP0Wm has made 3 comments about Ireland being in the UK… there will be a RIOT tonight ?
— JeekJill (@Da_jILLEST) June 4, 2022
Frontman will.i.am has since replied to one of the tweets saying: "I’m so sorry for that mistake…Please forgive my ignorance & accept my apology
I’m so sorry for that mistake…Please forgive my ignorance & accept my apology…#LOVE… https://t.co/j9s1OjAZMv
— will.i.am (@iamwill) June 4, 2022
In another apologetic tweet, he wrote: "You’re 1000% correct…It’s not confusion…I spend lots of time in this part of the world to know the difference…todays mess up was honest airhead embarrassing mistake…& I’m sorry…the republic of Ireland fought for their independence…and that’s inspiring…”
You’re 1000% correct…It’s not confusion…I spend lots of time in this part of the world to know the difference…todays mess up was honest airhead embarrassing mistake…& I’m sorry…the republic of Ireland fought for their independence…and that’s inspiring… #LOVE https://t.co/gQGI74sfDb
— will.i.am (@iamwill) June 4, 2022
Despite the criticism, it appears the Black Eyed Peas were able to enjoy a bit of craic while in Ireland as they posed for pictures at Tigh Cóilí in Galway City:
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