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Sir Rod Stewart offered his “deepest apologies” on Friday for causing upset by re-enacting an ISIS-style beheading, claiming he was merely copying “Game of Thrones.”
The now-deleted video clip that was posted on Instagram was filmed in the Abu Dhabi desert before a show in the United Arab Emirates.
It showed the British rocker with his friends trekking through the sand, before Stewart, 72, made a cutting motion across the throat of a man kneeling in front of him.
Also Read: President Trump Declares France Attacker 'Radical Islamic Terrorist'
Watch the video that was preserved on YouTube below.
The footage sparked outrage on Twitter and across global media, with former hostage John McCarthy (who was kidnapped in Lebanon in 1986) telling BBC Radio Scotland that the singer had turned “a grotesque thing into a kind of pantomime.”
However, Stewart claims was just “larking around” and that his actions were misinterpreted.
Also Read: 'The Night Of' Star Riz Ahmed Recounts Being 'Typecast as a Terrorist'
“From re-enacting the Beatles’ Abbey Road crossing to spontaneously playing out ‘Game Of Thrones,’ we were simply larking about pre-show,” he wrote in an apology on Twitter.
“Understandably, this has been misinterpreted and I send my deepest apologies to those who have been offended.”
— Rod Stewart (@rodstewart) March 3, 2017
See some of the tweets criticizing the “Blondes Have More Fun” singer below … some more seriously than others.
Over-privileged 'reality' @rodstewart
Sir Rod Stewart apologises for mimicking ISIS-style beheading https://t.co/5n9DC0HTSs via @MailOnline
— Lee Mares (@LeeMares) March 3, 2017
Saw 'Rod Stewart Apology' on TV news ticker tape from distance and assumed it was for his career from around 75/76 onwards.
— beatroute66 (@beatroute66) March 3, 2017
Not the first time Rod Stewart has been involved in a mock beheading scandal either… pic.twitter.com/QopzoJNJcz
— Alex Cavendish (@PrisonUK) March 3, 2017
Excited to start my first day as Rod Stewart's US publicist. Time to take a huge swig of coffee and see what's in today's news pic.twitter.com/SM1IpRzK0R
— Patrick Monahan (@pattymo) March 3, 2017
Rod Stewart ra Sellik fan re-enacts terrorist killing.mmmm where have i seen that before? Can feel "its not wot it looks like" xcuse comin. pic.twitter.com/0o31jZbtYa
— Big Enge (@RogerBigenge71) March 3, 2017
Rod Stewart trending at No.2 on my Twitter. ISIS don't get this much attention when they literally execute people.
— Sheanderthal (@Sheanderthal) March 3, 2017
"Rod Stewart does not represent us" pic.twitter.com/mWZ2UY0vXs
— Captain Kidd (@kidd_kong78) March 3, 2017
