The university has decided to rescind its decision to present the 'American Pie' hitmaker with the George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin Award due to his previous domestic violence conviction.
- May 8, 2019
AceShowbiz - Don McLean has hit back at UCLA executives after they rescinded his lifetime achievement award just hours after it was announced on Monday, May 06.
The "American Pie" hitmaker was due to be presented with the George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Student Alumni Association on 17 May.
However, UCLA revoked the accolade after learning that McLean, 73, had pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges, as part of a plea deal following his arrest in 2016 for an alleged domestic violence incident against his wife Patrisha McLean.
Taking to his Facebook page, the "Castles in the Air" singer slammed the university for their handling of the situation, and poked fun at the school for its alleged role in the recent college admissions scandal, in which some parents, including Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, were accused of taking part in a bribery scheme to get their children into good universities.
"This has been all over the internet for 3 years. Are you people morons? This is settled law," he wrote. "Maybe I need to give you some bribe money to grease the college wheels."
The singer-songwriter went on to protest his innocence, and insisted that he would not engage with the university further until he was offered a full apology.
"Don't ever come near me again unless you offer me an apology for the damage you have done me," the star raged. "I am guilty of nothing to do with assault and you had better make that clear... We live in a dark age of accusation and not law."
In a statement reported by the Portland Press Herald, the Student Alumni Association said, "We extend our support to survivors of domestic violence."
McLean pleaded guilty to six charges against him back in 2016, and was convicted of domestic violence criminal threatening, criminal restraint and criminal mischief. Further charges were dropped as part of a plea deal.
