He may know party rock better than even LMFAO, but Andrew W.K.'s ambassador trip to Bahrain has been nixed by the U.S. State Department. The white-clad rocker was named Cultural Ambassador to the Middle East and was set to visit the the week of December 2nd to promote "music, freedom and positive party power," but according to DCist, the U.S. State Department later decided the move "was probably not the best choice and didn't meet our standards."
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W.K. was broken up over the canceled trip, which he says was in the works for a year. In a statement, the rocker said the State Department first contacted him in September 2011. After spending a year going through an approval process and background check to line up the visit, he said he was confused by the last-minute cancellation. "When I was originally invited by our contact, it seemed everyone was aware of what I stand for with my positive attitude. They were aware of how I look and my high-energy rock music," said W.K. "They were excited to bring my message of living life to the fullest to the people in the Middle East. I was thrilled at the opportunity to represent my country and the spirit of inclusive and open-minded freedom that makes our nation so special and inspiring."
Though he's disappointed, W.K. isn't letting the aborted trip get him down. In fact, he's turning the tables. "For a Department of State representative to say Andrew W.K. 'doesn't meet their standards' after they invited me and planned my trip for a year, well, that doesn't meet my standards either. You can't judge a book by its cover," he said. "I would've done a great job and represented our nation with dignity and pride. Despite all these challenges, I still would love to go and I vow to continue partying, and working everyday to to unite our human race through the power of positive partying."
