The Celebrity Truth

The tabloid media has taken a light-hearted comment made by U2′s Bono out of context, claiming that he “lashed out” at Coldplay’s Chris Martin and called him a “wanker” and “a dysfunctional character and a cretin” – when in fact the U2 front-man was entirely joking.  Read and hear the real interview after the jump.

With headlines reading “Bono Lashes Out” and “Bono Hits Chris Martin With Low Blow“, gossip sites are frothing at the mouth over Bono’s apparently controversial comments.

The Irish rockers appeared on Jo Whiley’s radio show on BBC1 on Friday (Feb 27) to promote their new album ‘No Line On The Horizon’, and discussed Coldplay, who they performed alongside for a charity gig last week.

The following is a transcript of the interview taken from U2.com (listen to the chat at the bottom of the aritcle):

Jo Whiley : Bono, you did an interview just now with Zane Lowe where you talked about Coldplay and said that Chris Martin is right up there, right up there with the likes of Paul McCartney?

Bono: Yes, I did. I think he is that good a melodist. I mean, he’s a wanker (more laughter)… but, eh…

Jo Whiley: Are you going to apologise for what you just said, live on my show on Radio 1?

Bono: (gasps, inhales sharply) Oh, sorry, I’m a reformed character, by the way! I don’t do that any more!

JW: You’re not showing signs of being reformed…

Bono: Can we delete that?

Jo Whiley: No we can’t.

Bono: And he’s a disfunctional character and a cretin.

Jo Whiley: (laughs) Again apologies..

Bono: (getting serious) But he happens to be a genius melodist and, I think, up there with Ray Davies and Noel Gallagher and Paul McCartney and I absolutely think they’re a great band, and it actually turns out he’s a great soul as well. So, I’m sorry, sorry about that…
(Both laugh)

Jo Whiley: And I am sorry if anybody is listening at the moment and you were offended by the bad word that Bono said just now, and I apologise on Bono’s behalf too.

Bono: I was just joking entirely.

Jo Whiley: I know, it’s pretty early.

Jo Whiley: And I know you like to play the album to other people, contemporaries, was there talk of a night out with Chris Martin in Dublin, did you get him over to listen to the music?

Bono: We were up in Scotland actually, for Hogmanay and that’s the best place to be in the world for New Year isn’t it? And people were coming and going and Chris as well… we play it for everyone, really, from the bell boy…

Jo Whiley: Taxi drivers.

Bono: Yeah, taxi drivers, the hotel people and you can always hear songs through other peoples ears… you know if there’s a boring bit cos then the taxi driver starts to call his missus, must be the start of the guitar solo. (both laugh) OK, it was the chorus.
(More laughter in the studio).

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Photo: U2.com