R.E.M. Singer Hits Trump, Cruz For Using His Song: ‘Go F*ck Yourselves’

Michael Stipe speaks at the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Thursday, April, 10, 2014 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
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The lead singer of R.E.M. was not pleased that Donald Trump walked onto the stage at his Wednesday rally against the Iran deal to the band’s song, “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).”

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe blasted Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) for using the song at their rally in a Wednesday email to The Daily Beast.

“Go fuck yourselves, the lot of you—you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men,” Stipe told The Daily Beast, referring to Trump and Cruz. “Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign.”

The band also noted that the two Republican presidential candidates did not have permission to use the song in a Wednesday post in the R.E.M. Facebook page.

“While we do not authorize or condone the use of our music at this political event, and do ask that these candidates cease and desist from doing so, let us remember that there are things of greater importance at stake here,” the statement reads. “The media and the American voter should focus on the bigger picture, and not allow grandstanding politicians to distract us from the pressing issues of the day and of the current Presidential campaign.”

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