Veteran singer/songwriter Don McLean has had a prestigious lifetime achievement award rescinded due to a domestic violence incident dating back to 2016.
When most people think of Don McLean, they’re usually reminded of the lengthy ode to “the day the music died” in ‘American Pie’, or the Vincent van Gogh tribute ‘Vincent’.
In both cases, these tunes spark up the image of a thoughtful, talented musician whose tireless contributions to the world of music deserve to be recognised.
This is apparently the line of thinking that the University of California, Los Angeles seemed to follow when they announced McLean as the latest recipient of the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement – an honour previously given to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole, Tom Petty, and Ray Charles.
However, it has since been reported that Don McLean’s celebrations have been short-lived, with the musician’s award being rescinded due to his previous charges of domestic violence.
Check out Don McLean’s ‘Vincent’:
As the Portland Press Herald reports, Don McLean’s lifetime achievement award has been rescinded due to a 2016 incident which saw the musician plead guilty to charges of domestic violence against his wife Patrisha McLean.
“The Student Alumni Association at UCLA has rescinded its decision to present Don McLean with the 2019 George and Ira Gershwin Award,” explained Tod M. Tamberg, the senior executive director of UCLA Strategic Communications Media Relations.
“The decision to rescind the award was made by SAA’s Spring Sing Executive Committee upon learning that Mr. McLean had previously been convicted of domestic violence charges.”
“SAA rejects any behavior – including violence and the threat of violence in all its forms – that does not uphold the True Bruin Values. We extend our support to survivors of domestic violence.”
In a statement shared following the news of the award being rescinded, Don McLean’s publicist Jeremy Westby explained that such an action was “publicly disrespectful and grossly humiliating to Mr. McLean to issue and then rescind an award based on the supposition of any violent criminal history.”
“I am incredibly surprised and disappointed that an institution such as UCLA, having had adequate time to vet all potential award recipients, would so easily and negligently overlook something as public as what has happened to Mr. McLean and his family three years ago,” Westby wrote in an email to the organisation.
Of course, this isn’t the first time that Don McLean has suffered fallout relating to charges of domestic violence, with his 2016 tour of Australia being cancelled in the aftermath of the incident in question.
Originally slated to perform at Bluesfest in 2016, the musician revealed he was pushing his dates back to 2017 in order to “work at reuniting” with his family.
Despite these tour dates being reportedly postponed, Don McLean is yet to return to Australia, with his last performances taking place in 2013.
Check out ‘American Pie’ by Don McLean:
