A video of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau singing in a swank hotel lounge has caused a social media uproar. Trudeau was in London, UK for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, and the video shows him singing the Queen (the band, not the monarch) song “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the lobby of the Corinthia Hotel.
The luxury spa hotel is located within walking distance of Trafalgar Square, with room starting at about $1,600 CAD. At the piano was musician and recording artist Gregory Charles, a recipient of the Order of Canada. Charles was there as part of the Canadian delegation, which also included fellow members of the Order of Canada actress Sandra Oh, former Olympian Mark Tewksbury, and Cross of Valour recipient Leslie Arthur Palmer.
Last night at the Savoy. Our PM in the UK representing Canada for the Queen’s funeral. 🤦🏻♀️
How do you say you were a drama teacher without saying you were a drama teacher. pic.twitter.com/kfRlve7pmV— Lisa Power (@LisaPow33260238) September 19, 2022
Social media commentators immediately jumped on the video after it was posted with a reference to Trudeau’s past as a drama teacher, a favourite talking point among the PM’s detractors.
Speculation over when exactly the video was taken ranges from months before at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to the evening before the funeral. Most media sources now seem to have settled on “days before the funeral”. It’s also not clear who took the video. The original poster claimed erroneously that the video was recorded at the Savoy Hotel.
The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement to Global News on September 18.
“After dinner on Saturday, (the) Prime Minister joined a small gathering with members of the Canadian delegation, who have come together to pay tribute to the life and service of Her Majesty,” Global News quotes a spokesperson for the Prime Minister.
Apparently, Gregory began to play the piano in the hotel lobby, and several people sang along with him, including the Prime Minister.
It being social media, fuzziness over the facts has not prevented a wave of Twitter users from entering the debate on all sides. Is it disrespectful to the late Queen? Is it nothing? Is it…awesome?
You be the judge.
Not how I would expect the @CanadianPM to behave on such an occasion.
Then again. It is @JustinTrudeau https://t.co/oqEoVwfCbR— Vivian Bercovici (@VivianBercovici) September 19, 2022
You know, I despise Justin Trudeau more than probably most people out there. But him singing Bohemian Rhapsody in the UK isn't a big deal.
— Nathan Wrong (@realNathanWrong) September 19, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sings Freddie Mercury's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' along with Quebec Pianist, Gregory Charles.
That's super cool.https://t.co/NsM9QJKkoP
— Rick Barnes (@queerthoughts) September 19, 2022
Takeaway…
If you’re Prime Minister, you can’t sing like no one’s listening.
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