entertainment

Babymetal shows maturity as rude UK award presenter repeatedly interrupts speech

75 Comments
By Casey Baseel, RocketNews24

Japanese musical trio Babymetal is in the middle of a world tour, and while in London the band attended the Kerrang! Awards, sponsored by the UK’s Karrang! music magazine. This wasn’t their first time to be there, either. In 2015, Babymetal took home the organization’s Spirit of Independence Award, and this time they followed up on that success by winning Kerrang’s title of Best Live Band of 2016.

The announcement was a happy moment for the group and its fans. The crowd applauded enthusiastically, and the three teen musicians made their way to the front of the amphitheater to be officially given the award by presenter Benji Webbe, singer for Welsh metal/rock/reggae band Skindred.

Things got weird once on stage, though, as shown in the video below. 18-year-old Suzuka Nakamoto, Babymetal’s oldest member who’s also known as Su-Metal, begins an acceptance speech in accented but understandable English, starting with “I can’t believe we’re here at Kerrang! Award [sic] again,” at which point the 49-year-old Webbe interrupted by repeating “Again” into his mike.

Despite the fact that she was addressing the audience, Nakamoto turns to Webbe and says, “Thank you,” to which he baffling responds “Again.”

Still trying to be polite, Nakamoto once more turns to Webbe and says “Yes,” giving him the benefit of the doubt that he’s not being a jerk, but simply hasn’t understood her. Webbe clearly needs more attention, tough, because rather than letting the performers who just won the award he’s presenting talk, he continues jabbering over Nakamoto’s speech, and adds in a few curt bows that are so half-hearted they’re hard to see as anything other than a mockery of the traditional Japanese show of respect.

The audience has obviously had enough, as its startled silence quickly turns to jeers. Webbe’s hearing doesn’t appear to be any better than his sense of “comedy,” though, and he keeps going. Nakamoto visibly realizes there’s no way Webbe is going to pipe down and tries to wrap things up, simply saying “Thank you to everyone,” which Webbe takes as his cue to say “Arigato.”

Finally, after shouting something in a fake Japanese accent, Benji finally quiets down and the audience gets to hear the rest of what Nakamoto has to say.

Considering how unassuming Babymetal’s members are when interacting with fans and the media, quite a few of the band’s supporters took issue with Webbe’s actions, which boil down to picking a fight with a group of teenage girls. In response, Webbe apologized on his Twitter account.

Granted, Internet etiquette is a young, and still evolving thing, but yeah, it seems like common sense that if you want to apologize to Babymetal through Twitter, it’s pretty easy to do directly, seeing as how the band has an official Twitter account. Which, incidentally, is followed by more than 20 times as many people as Webbe’s.

Speaking of the Babymetal Twitter account, the band has made no comment there about the incident, as it’s too busy thanking everyone who was part of the massive turnout for its performance in Paris.

In other words, it looks like Babymetal figures it may as well let the real baby have his bottle.

Source: Livedoor News via Hachima Kiko

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- X Japan’s Yoshiki hints at a possible collaboration with BABYMETAL -- BABYMETAL keeps turning metalheads, voted Best Metal Album of the Year -- The anticipation builds: BABYMETAL to release new album next April

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


75 Comments
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It was rude because it was their award and not his 15 minutes.

28 ( +32 / -4 )

I cringed and recoiled in disgust when I first saw the video. What was supposed to be a good night for Babymetal was turned on its head by this anonymous tosser who thought he was a comedian.

24 ( +29 / -5 )

Wow what a douche, just let them do their speech.

16 ( +20 / -4 )

Nasty. His behavior was obnoxious, childish and racist. And it was called out by many.

16 ( +19 / -3 )

The reason why this is rude is because he ****kept interrupting after she clearly wanted to finish her sentence; probably before she could make a mistake. The guy was clearly drunk or doing some drug but regardless, acting like behavior like this is not rude really makes one look twice as worse.

14 ( +20 / -6 )

Idiot... I've seen many idiots like this in music, they can't handle anyone else getting the spotlight.... sounds like he is drunk or high or both.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

Poor host.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

They hired him because he's a hole filler.

Yes, hat's apparently where his head was

10 ( +10 / -1 )

@randomnator Webbe clearly needs more attention; as in he is seeking more attention from the audience by talking over the award winners. And targetting a typo is simply childish. Just saying.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Perhaps Webbe should return to the valley....

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Wow. That was rude. Babymetal is really enjoying their well deserved success. I wish their guitarist, bassist and drummer got a little more credit. . . they're supplying all the crunchy jams.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

They hired him because he's a hole filler. Always ready to say things, whether or not they add up to anything. He's high on himself. I've been to parties with big shots who think if they're talking no one else should be. They never change.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Rude is rude, Benji Webbe is old enough to be their father, sigh

4 ( +6 / -2 )

And this is news......

she has a horrible thick accent, the other guy is a jerk, and losers don`t go to award shows.... and this video is worse than smart phone quality....

If I ran a 2 bit blog, I wouldn`t even run this story, my God, what am I doing with my time!

3 ( +11 / -8 )

The guy used to be a singer himself. When you realize you haven't got as much talent as you thought you had, you want to pick on someone who look happy and successful.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Benji Webbe, singer for Welsh metal/rock/reggae band Skinheads

Who?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

@sandiegoluv:

WOW, this article was made really about nothing at

AGAIN?

all. He was not rude. He

AGAIN? (mocking bow)

was just doing his own thing for

AGAIN?! (another mocking bow)

about five seconds and after that she spoke and said what she wanted to say.

In what alternate universe is an award presenter expected to do ANYTHING to draw attention to themselves while an award recipient is giving an acceptance speech? The was a textbook case of RUDE. This ranks right up there with Kanye walking up on stage and telling Swift that Beyonce should have won.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Kerrang! Should be renamed 'Kerrching', as they are getting a cut of that soft-power budget.

And maybe that's why the presenter was less than gracious. You know, there are lots of real, hard-working bands that graft for years for no money to build a fan-base and make a career. Of course, it's not the girls' fault and there's no need to be rude. The article is garbage.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

@commanteer: You'd be surprised how common that kind of behaviour is in Wales. I've had four years experience with that kind of abuse, and I'm only English. Sadly that's not likely to change any time soon.

It's pretty tragic that this moron would have to be so rude for no good reason. Whether it's simple jealousy at Babymetal's success and fame, or else bigotry and stupidity, I'm not sure which. In either case though, his behaviour is unacceptable, and he should be banned from presenting in future. Good on Nakamoto-san for rising above his immaturity though. I've known too many musicians to sink to that level in retaliation, so it's nice to see someone handle the situation maturely instead.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

this video is worse than smart phone quality....

It is smart phone quality.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

The Kanye West of the UK......

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Daniel Neagari: "In fact they are all contrary to fake, they are sort of original if you consider their activity being centered in Heavy Metal and Rock fest more than Pop concerts."

Yeah, except that they don't write, don't play, and can hardly sing, and when they do half the songs are about chocolate and cute stuff.

"The three girls may not be song writing nor composing (may be in the future??), does do not mean they lack of talent"

It means they are not musicians, they are entertainers.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

The original source was RocketNews. There's your first clue towards how worthwhile the article will be.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

In other words, it looks like Babymetal figures it may as well let the real baby have his bottle.

Sounds like he'd already had his bottle - and it contained something "other" than milk...

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Webbe? Is he actually anything special in metal?

Mind you it has been many years since I last read Kerrang, mostly because it was losing touch both with my own tastes and with the general fandom. It seemed to be pushing its own agenda rather than reporting on what was actually out there. Hope that changed.

Mind you, it seems that rudeness is a staple in comedy these days. It's that shock element, and it's something that has been overused. Once the shock value has gone, all you have left is the rudeness which gets boring very fast. Webbe ought to learn this once he sobers up.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Just another narcissist trying to capitalize on someone else's 5 minutes in the spotlight.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Is this really the best LIVE BAND awards ? How strong I try to convince myself, I can only see 3 AKBs with a rock band in the background, very in the shadow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnSkXOZeNKo

1 ( +9 / -8 )

Who knows how many drugs he shot before going on stage. Bizarre...

1 ( +5 / -4 )

What a complete obnoxious tosser. That's racism all right. Tough bloke making fun of non anglo teens thanking their fans in English!

Babymetal artistic quality is irrelevant, they deserve respect like everyone else. The co hosts arent much better either, could have stepped in and helped/thanked the girls.

In an ideal world though someone would have decked the tosser.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

18-year-old Suzuka Nakamoto, was referring to Kerrang 2015 "The Spirit of Independence Award"....BABYMETAL receive 2015 Kerrang award

http://heavens-fox.blog.jp/archives/34018788.html

Look Benji Webbe,singer for Welsh metal/rock/reggae band Skindred accustomed entertainment is four legged and woolly, that bleats baa's and meh's. If Webbe, sober, had anything between his ears he would be dangerous, why give him the column space?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@Jalapeno

And here I thought ALL Brits were respectful people. At least that's what I learned in that National Lampoon's European Vacation movie.

I can tell you that that movie used a stereotype for the British, but then that's nothing unusual for American made media. As you can see from this business, we have our own share of arseholes as much as any other country.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I'm surprised at how much bitterness there is towards these girls.

I have a policy on musicians that I don't like. I don't listen to their music. Pretty simple.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

But I'm also a proud metal chick, and seeing these idols claiming to be "metal" is frustrating and embarrassing for me.

YAY !!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Some people were not taught manners and are just selfish and don't care how undignified they are. They're just rude, they act like this constantly, they're aware their actions are offensive to others, and they love themselves just the way they are. If they are under the influence of a substance it provides them with the idea and or feeling that it's okay to behave that way.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Wc626 oh.. good ! thanks satan they dont allow toddler akbmetal in knotfest

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Sigh... sometimes in the entertainment world you have to put up with guys like Benji, lol.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Webbe, the world's biggest Yarimon!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Granted, this article sounds like it's written by a fan. It's not really a surprise since the author is from RocketNews24, a known weabsite. That being said, this Webbe guy was being an ass in such a cringe-worthy way. Why couldn't he just let the girls have their moment?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

And here I thought ALL Brits were respectful people. At least that's what I learned in that National Lampoon's European Vacation movie.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@Fadamor - When you compared him to Kanye, I thought you were out of your mind. But I watched the tape again and now get what actually happened. So, I don't mind having my previous comments deleted. I was watching it on a smaller screen and missed the most important part. I can admit where I am wrong. My apologies.

Moderator; I would like to have my previous comments on the article deleted.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Still waiting for Kerrang to apologise for this horrible episode.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

They're a Metal band.... they can take it.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

They're a Metal band.... they can take it.

They're not a metal band, they're three pop idols backed by a band. Even if it sounds "metally" to you guys, thematically it is just the same silly idol pop. It doesn't justify that idiot being rude, though.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Wow, embarrassing. Benji Webb acting like the grandad no one invited to the party, trying to be cool with the kids, but ending up coming across as an immature jerk. Well handled Babymetal, you have class.

At least he has now apologies, might be time to retire though.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I've been metal my whole life - I even was in a band when I was in my 20's. And I've never felt threatened by anyone claiming to be metal or not. If people want to listen to some music I don't like, it affects my life absolutely none at all.

Well, you're right that I shouldn't care what other people do, but it does affect my life a bit. It's not about being threatened, it's about everyone, including fellow metalheads, thinking that this idol nonsense is "Japanese metal." I have friends in real bands here. My sister plays in a band in the US. But they keep having the same problem. All the time now people are like "wow you're japanese though, shouldn't you be more like Babymetal." Threatening? No. Annoying and embarrassing, as Japanese metal fans? Yes.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@ChaosWyvern. I can understand your annoyance but the image too often precedes the music anyway, when it comes to Metal. Therefore, I would consider them just part of the many sub-genres of Metal... whether or not if it's considered good... I like the so called NWOBHM but I don't really like the hardcore Deathmetal or 80s glam stuff. However, it's all Metal... or Rock.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

While I am almost two years late to the party. The three little girls forgot one thing. THE BAND. Why didn't the band be allowed up. THEY make the girls not the other way around.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kerrang! Should be renamed 'Kerrching', as they are getting a cut of that soft-power budget.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Suzuka Nakamoto, Babymetal’s OLDEST member... begins an acceptance speech

This is similar to when JARVIS COCKER called out and shut down MICHAEL JACKSON at the Brit Awards in 1996, so maybe this Benji Webbe guy hosting the KERRANG! HEAVY METAL awards is highlighting that something dodgy is going on...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Metal RIP.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Some of you guys need to chill, you do know this understand "entertainment" new. Not national front page press stuff. So yeah it makes the entertainment news. And yeah, Benji probably took inspiration from Kanye. Let the girl finish her message, regardless if you dislike BabyMetal.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

This kind of stuff happen in the music world. Babymetsl will live & perform in another time & venue. Actually this is small stuff.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

It's only Rock n Roll.....

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Zeroscape are better away. Even if they are from Cuckanada.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@theeastisred.

Very unkind of this nobody to be rude to a comedy act.

So true!

Also, Smithinjapan, I agree.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

So happy that BabyMetal has worked hard to rise to the top in their field and that award presenter was an idiot. *

Considering your previous statement about how they are just as plastic pop rock band, I wondered whether you were joking. They ate just 3 japanese teens who are paid to sing along and dance. They are ten a penny in Japan.

What was Kerangg doing taking them seriously?

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

I don't listen to music I don't like either, Strangerland. But I'm also a proud metal chick, and seeing these idols claiming to be "metal" is frustrating and embarrassing for me.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Yes the only differences with AKB are:

Only 3 members instead of 300

Radio turned on at maximum volume in the background. Or is it a noisy vacuum cleaner.

Still, no reason to be rude I suppose. Unchivalrous oaf.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Wow. From the article I was expecting to watch a really awkward, five-minute long or so speech in which the announcer was being extremely rude. He did keep cutting into the mere "Thank you" the girls were saying, but this whole article is just a storm in a tea-cup, and it's not nearly as bad as the obviously die-hard fan was making it out to be. If Webbe's "hearing is bad", though, then the writer's hearing is WAY worse, or else he is just seeing a whole lot that isn't there, because there was hardly enough time for awkward pauses and jeering by the audience -- it was about 10 seconds long!

Talk about seeing what isn't there! Congrats to the young ladies, though.

-2 ( +12 / -14 )

Agree with Wc626. Actually none of the bands listed at the start of the video ("best live band") are metal, although they are at least real bands....

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Much ado about nothing

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

@The Womp - No kidding. He even did their Baby Metal pose! @Miyuki - Could not agree with you more!

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

From Wikipedia. The group was formed in 2010 by a Amuse Talent Agency as a sub-unit of Sakura Gakuin, aiming to realize a fusion of metal and Idol music. None of the initial 3 members even knew what metal music was before the inception of the band. So happy that BabyMetal has worked hard to rise to the top in their field and that award presenter was an idiot.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

I don't listen to music I don't like either, Strangerland. But I'm also a proud metal chick, and seeing these idols claiming to be "metal" is frustrating and embarrassing for me.

I've been metal my whole life - I even was in a band when I was in my 20's. And I've never felt threatened by anyone claiming to be metal or not. If people want to listen to some music I don't like, it affects my life absolutely none at all.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Seriously you guys? His whole "rude" thing was a few seconds at most and he stood there quietly as she did hers for more than 15 seconds. Hardly worth the uproar at all. What is the big deal? Could it be because you guys are Baby Metal fans and dislike Webbe? Sounds like it. Go back and look at the tape.. Congratulations to the girls. But the outrage expressed on here is as ridiculous as the article itself. SMH.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

They're not a metal band, they're three pop idols backed by a band.

Exactly. The 3 girls don't (didn't) know anything about metal. The band itself is pretty good though. Good drummer and crunchy, catchy guitar riffs . . . .although the do the whole "dropped C#" guitar tuning.

I have a policy on musicians that I don't like. I don't listen to their music. Pretty simple.

That's a good poliy. But its really annoying when some bands just ruin / embarrass the genre of music I like. I remember hating Bon Jovi, Poison and the whole "GLAM" Metal thing. ( . . .the girls really liked it though.)

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

@Wc626Define fake....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng4hyD8AWJk

Another "fake" wanabe metal band featuring Lolitas. They opened up at Loudpark last October (Saitama Stadium).

Thankfully, we were still in the truck pounding beers and didn't go in until some of the "real" bands started coming on. I'm just sayin'

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

I guess things went badly downhill in metal

Not for REAL metal fans.

http://www.ozzfestmeetsknotfest.com/

Babymetal is fake metal.

-5 ( +9 / -14 )

Kerrang.. really? I guess things went badly downhill in metal if that is what the audience really want...oh and, they are not musicians in any conceivable way, its about same as akb but with less singing talent and less panty showing.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

@Wc626 Define fake....

In fact they are all contrary to fake, they are sort of original if you consider their activity being centered in Heavy Metal and Rock fest more than Pop concerts.

The three girls may not be song writing nor composing (may be in the future??), does do not mean they lack of talent... Su-metal (Miss Nakamoto) has a incredible and powerful voice, the Kami-band is a good one and many songs are well performed.

I personally like "Sis. Anger"... Yu-metal and Moa-metal cheery voice singing in Japanese... but if you change the lyrics to English and sing it with "a metal voice", the result is interesting.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

Who? Webbie who? Is he the janitor? Why does he even matter? Tell him to make me some Freedom Fries... and make sure they are fresh!

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Very unkind of this nobody to be rude to a comedy act. Goalless draw.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

I take it the author of this article is a teen-pop fan and not a writer by profession.

. Webbe clearly needs more attention, tough, because rather than letting the performers who just won the award he’s presenting talk, he continues jabbering over Nakamoto’s speech, and adds in a few curt bows that are so half-hearted they’re hard to see as anything other than a mockery of the traditional Japanese show of respect

is that really a sentence? He needs more attention or he needs to pay more attention? Tough? Casey has a point but why not keep it under 140 characters? Tough news day at the office? However, after listening to some of their music I'm a new fan. Thanks for the rambling intro. How about just writing a column on cool up and coming music acts on the local and global scene. No one listens to the radio much anymore and a well thought out introduction column would be popular I'm sure.

-14 ( +7 / -21 )

WOW, this article was made really about nothing at all. He was not rude. He was just doing his own thing for about five seconds and after that she spoke and said what she wanted to say. Really an article that should not even be made. Talk about trying to make something out of nothing at all.

-27 ( +11 / -38 )

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