Image Credit: Insidefoto/PR Photos; Marion Curtis/Startraksphoto.com Ryan Murphy sees your “no thanks,” Kings of Leon, and he raises you a Cee-Lo salutation.
Responding to the Southern rockers’ claim last summer that they had no wish to participate in his pop-showcase phenomenon, The Glee creator took the opportunity in today’s Hollywood Reporter to deliver a succint “F— you, Kings of Leon.”
“They’re self-centered assholes and they missed the big picture,” he continued. “They missed that a 7-year-old kid can see someone close to their age singing a Kings of Leon song, which will maybe make them want to join a glee club or pick up a musical instrument. It’s like, OK, hate on arts education. You can make fun of Glee all you want, but at its heart, what we really do is turn kids on to music.”
Frontman Caleb Followill’s response? “This whole Glee thing is a shock to us,” he told The Reporter. “It’s gotten out of hand. At the time of the request, we hadn’t even seen the show. It came at the end of that record cycle, and we were over promoting ["Use Somebody"]. This was never meant as a slap in the face to Glee or to music education or to fans of the show. We’re not sure where the anger is coming from.”
Wherever it is, Murphy has more of it. In reference to Slash, who, when asked about a potential Guns ‘n’ Roses episode, recently told EW that Glee makes Grease look like “a brilliant work of art,” Murphy countered: “Usually I find that people who make those comments, their careers are over; they’re uneducated and quite stupid.”
Stick that in your tophat and smoke it, Mr. Slash! And you, Kings of Leon, stick it in your … shampoo? I don’t know. Either way, you’re all off Ryan Murphy’s Secret Santa list this year.
UPDATE: Following the story’s publication, KoL drummer Nathan Followill tweeted the following: Dear Ryan Murphy, let it go. See a therapist, get a manicure, buy a new bra. Zip your lip and focus on educating 7yr olds how to say f—.”
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
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Ryan Murphy needs to relax. Not everyone wants their music ‘Glee’-cized. Sure it’s a good commercial vehicle but just because someone doesn’t want their song auto-tuned to death while it’s being delivered by one of the most over-hyped shows on TV doesn’t mean they deserve an “F-you.”
Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you.
I understand why Slash said no to Glee because, well, he’s old and grumpy, but Kings of Leon? Why did they say no on the first place? Everybody from Kelly Clarkson to Trey Songz has covered that “Use somebody” song. Sounds like damage control to me but hey, to each his own.
I think they pretty much explained why they didn’t do it above. They hadn’t seen the show yet–not everyone watches TV. Though I thought their tweeted response was rather heterosexist.
It doesn’t matter why they said no. But they have every right to. Plus, they know those other musicians, probably. They didn’t know Glee. Just because his overrated show is much loved by people doesn’t mean he can get whatever be wants. For somebody who promises acceptance and is anti-bullying, he’s doing a bad job showing it.
Glee or Kings of Leon. Hard to say which is worse, what with both being awful.
Kings of Leon suck major donkey balls. They sing like they’re constipated.
Seriously. Ryan Murphy is coming off like a self-absorbed, all-important jerk.
Agreed. Although K of L are also a bunch of overrated hacks, imo.
Yeah. He’s exhibiting a pattern of grandiose, self-absorbed, public crankiness. Society IS ill and could use a fix in places. However, I doubt let’s not start thinking your TV show is the nexus of societal improvement. Chill the eff out, man.
Agree with you 100% Ned.
sure, murphy, sure. it’s all abotu the kids….what a load. he’s just pissed he got a flat out no. and good for leon for doing it. glee’s already managed to ruin every popular song to come along in a while. good for kings for standing thier ground. their fans could care less about glee. they’re being true to who they are as artists.
Conclusions, jump much Ryan?
For all the positive that this show has done, he negates a lot of it. One step forward, two steps back dude!
I love Glee, but Ryan Murphy needs to shut up. Why obsess so much over one band? Plus my 6 year old doesn’t need to watch Glee to know KOL’s music.
Ned, I love you for telling it like it is. Glee, while entertaining, just isn’t all THAT and Murphy really needs to get over himself. He didn’t invent anything new or unique. All Glee is is yet another update of teenagers “puttin’ on the big show.” It wasn’t new in the 30′s when judy garland and micky rooney were doing it, it wasn’t new in the 50′s when it was frankie and annette, it wasn’t new in the 70′s with flashdance and footloose, and it’s STILL not new now. Murphy is skating close to delusiontown.
flash dance and footloose were in the 80s. Dont be making me older than I already am
LOL…yeah, sorry about that! My bad typo…
I understand Murphy’s point of view, but music and TV are businesses at the end of the day. Those songs aren’t public domain, and Murphy can’t just have whatever song he wants on the show. If KoL or Slash have no interest in seeing their songs on Glee, then Murphy needs to move on.
WOW…how out of line is ryan murphy? Not every self respecting artist needs to have their songs on glee just so you and your minstrels can butcher it in some unfulfilling story. And then to use a non sequiter such as missing the bigger picture of the arts is just insulting since there hasnt been much “art” coming from the series since the first 6 episodes of season 1. I’m flabbergasted at the ego and lack of respect from him
I’m really surprised at EW here. Usually a blogger would call an artist out for being a jerk. i.e. Ryan Murphy’s insane rant and KoL’s reasonable response. But this just shows how far up Glee’s a$$ EW is.
Seeeeeriously. You’ve summarized well.
Could not have said it better, Leslie. Glee used to be great, not so much anymore, and the fact that EW continues to massively promote it shows, like you said, how far up Glee’s a$$ EW is.
I agree! I was surprised at EW for the way they took his side because while I like Glee, Ryan came off as a total douche in that interview.
Seriously, Murphy sounds like a petulant, egomaniacal child. He just can’t seem to grasp the concept that some artists are allowed to not like Glee.
Ryan Murphy comes off as a douche in this interview. So now he’s catering to children? Grrrrrreat!
Slash rocks!
They have something in common — they are completely overrated.
Wow, I love Glee and their music, but I think Ryan Murphy gives himself too much credit. Kings of Leon is well within their rights to not allow someone else to do their music. Murphy’s anger is completely misplaced and misguided. What an egomaniac.
I am happy that Ryan Murphy spoke up Kings of Leon are a**holes.
It seems like “takes one to know one” would apply here. I also think “I know you are but what am I” is viable, if a little childish.
Kings of Leon may very well be a-holes but not because they don’t want their songs on Glee. The a-hole in this situation is Ryan Murphy. To suggest that not wanting your songs performed on Glee means an artist is against arts education is ridiculous. “Use Somebody” else to promote your already overly promoted show, Ryan Murphy.
All the personal insults from Murphy are uncalled for. Seems he’s too sensitive about Glee, n that’s just wrong especially if u r in Hollywood. I would love to see someone not taking any of his crap n kicking his teeth out. Just like Perez, who needed a well deserved ass-kicking to tone it down a notch. I like Glee (as I like KOL, and especially Slash), but if someone declines to give their music to the show, so be it, who cares?! its not like they dont have any other music to choose from.
I wonder how this would have turned out if Murphy had said, “well let me send over a couple episodes to watch.” Maybe KoL would have still declined, or maybe not.
Murphy is the jerk here. You are not doing the music education world any favors, you are not inspiring anybody. These comments sound like they came from a 7 year old music student. Geez, man get a grip.
I didn’t notice this before, but anyone looking for a real musician inspiring and helping a lot of people, follow the link on this page to Popeater and read about Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Glee is fluffy entertainment.
…could Ryan Murphy be any more of an asshat? I like Glee, but it is not the brilliant piece of lifechanging art he thinks it is. it’s fun, and generally fluff, and most of his storylines fade away when he realizes he can’t do anything with it. it is not the most brilliant show on TV. god. and furthermore, I don’t see why he thinks every single artist should want their song on Glee. I really just…what a pretentious douche. his comments were completely out of line.
Thank you! I like Glee too, but Ryan Murphy acts like it’s this revolutionary, amazing high art. He needs to accept that not every single artist agrees with him.
I thought the whole Glee-theme was anti-bully, don’t be afraid to be different. I guess the exception to that is if being different means not wanting your original work re-recorded for Glee and the bully is Ryan Murphy.
Well said!
That’s brilliant.
This restored so much credibility to KoL for me, and I’m not joking. Hats off to them.
Wow, what a classy response from a classy guy. How dare any musicians not want their work associated with his precious little show? I bet it’s because they hate gay people or something! And if Slash’s career is over, why would Glee want to lower is standards to cover his work? Sounds like someone has gotten too big for his breeches. Cry baby.
The funny thing is that Slash’s career isn’t over. He’s in the middle of a very successful tour on his very successful solo album, and his profile is the highest it’s been since GnR’s demise. Not everyone wants their music made into a bastardized, wannabe “Rocky Horror Picture Show” version.
Murphy needs to Chillax and take that chip off his shoulder! Artists don’t have to allow someone else to perform their music. Especially, not a cheesy high school musical show.