Brokelyn.com: Andrew W.K.'s speaking invitation in Bahrain revoked

By Jenn McKee Entertainment Reporter

Posted on Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.

Andrew W.K.

Rocker Andrew W.K. —also known as Ann Arbor native Andrew Wilkes-Krier—recently announced on his own website that the U.S. Department of State named him a "Cultural Ambassador to the Middle East," and that he'd be traveling to visit schools, a university, music venues and more in Bahrain in the coming weeks. But now the Brokelyn blog—which was the first to call "hoax" at W.K.'s news—now reports that W.K. "had a speaker’s invitation that was revoked because it didn’t pass muster with the State Department.

"A State Department spokesperson told us the following: 'Andrew WK had been invited by the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain to be part of a cultural speakers program, but upon further review, the program was canceled because it did not meet the standards of the State Department,'” the blog reported.

W.K.'s response, via Twitter, read, "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."

Tags: Andrew W.K., music,

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Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.