Pink Floyd Legend Rejects Offer From ‘Idiot’ Mark Zuckerberg
In the last few years, Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has probably made a lot more enemies than friends. The guy really does not seem to have a lot of fans. Facebook has faced plenty of criticism, especially during the 2016 and 2020 election seasons, and the site has banned the likes of Alex Jones and, more recently, former President Donald Trump — who promised payback against Zuckerberg, per Forbes. But Zuckerberg’s most recent opposition comes from an unusual place — a former member of the legendary British rock band Pink Floyd.
Last week, the band’s co-founder and former bass guitarist, Roger Waters, spoke at an event in support of Australian activist Julian Assange and dropped a mouthful against Zuckerberg. Waters held up a letter he received from Facebook requesting permission to use one of his compositions, the band’s 1979 hit “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2).” He rejected it of course. But he also made his declination public, and quite colorful, reports CNN. His response: “The answer is, ‘f*** you. No f***in’ way,” said Waters.
Waters' overall rejection of Zuckerberg
According to Waters, Facebook’s offer specifically requested to use the hit song to promote their photo-sharing website Instagram and cited the relevance of the song’s lyrics in modern times. But Waters could care less. His dismissal of the offer, which promised a large payment, comes from his overall dislike of the Facebook’s practices. “They want to use it to make Facebook and Instagram even bigger and more powerful than it already is, so that it can continue to censor all of us in this room,” said Waters (per The Los Angeles Times).
And he also had a barrage of words for Zuckerberg, calling him a “little pr***” and even questioning his intelligence and standing in the world.
“How the f**k did he get any power in anything, and yet here he is, one the most powerful idiots in the world,” stated Waters, per Inside Hook. It’s not clear if Waters directly told Facebook of his rejection, but if they didn’t know then, they know now.
A revered song of protest
The song “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)” earned Pink Floyd their first No. 1 Billboard hit in 1980. It’s revered as one of the best protest songs to come out of that decade (via In the ’80s). The track can be heard in countless movies and television shows, and has even been used in social and political demonstrations. South Africa infamously banned the band’s song during apartheid because Black South African youth found inspiration in the song’s message and what they were confronted with in their racially segregated country, says Far Out Magazine.
Waters wrote the song critiquing the British education system and its teachers, likening the pain they inflict as just another brick in the wall. Its memorable lyrics include: “We don’t need no education/We don’t need no thought control.” And who can forget the catchy: “Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone!”
Waters has harsh words ready for anyone
As an activist, Roger Waters has been very vocal about the issues he’s championed. But he’s also been vocal about what he doesn’t like. Zuckerberg is not the first (and won’t be the last) person whom Waters has had harsh words for. He’s had a lot to say about Donald Trump. He famously went on an entire musical tour condemning Trump and told his naysayers to opt for Katy Perry instead if they had any criticism of his event, per CNN. In an interview with Rolling Stone last year, the famed bassist called Trump a “tyrant and mass murderer and mass destroyer.”
Waters also got accused of anti-Semitism for his comments about Trump ally and Jewish-American businessman, Sheldon Adelson. He described the famous donor as a right-wing fascist, racist, and bigot (via New Musical Express). Not long after his Trump comments, Waters even had something to say about Trump’s successor. Ahead of the 2020 Presidential election, the rocker had doubts that Biden could even beat Trump, and in typical fashion, colorfully described the then-candidate. “Biden is such a f*****g slime ball, he’s so weak, and has no appeal to anybody,” said Waters (via another New Musical Express link).
A lifelong commitment to speaking his truth
Roger Waters obviously doesn’t bite his tongue when he has an opinion to share or a hasty move to make (even if he later regrets it). Over the years, he’s readily spoken up on politics and social movements, and offered profanity-laced commentary — And he’s likely been that way all his life.
He famously quarreled with members of the very band he started. Founded in London in 1965, Pink Floyd’s members included Waters, Syd Barrett, David Gilmour, Bob Klose, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright. Barrett left the band very early on and was replaced with Gilmour, says Britannica. Waters would eventually leave too, saying his goodbye in 1985. He even (unsuccessfully) sued his fellow bandmates as a result of his departure so that they couldn’t use the band’s name to make music. He later admitted he regretted the whole ordeal, per BBC.
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