You're reading: Lifestyle Blog: Was it all that bad with Bloodhound Gang?

It’s amazing how quickly a different point of view can turn something depraved into something relatively humorous. An uncovered YouTube video, shot from an entirely different angle, shows flag desecrator Jared Hasselhoff not urinating on the Ukrainian flag as everyone supposed, but accidently spraying it with red liquid – possibly fake blood – during a harmless prank. Which begs the question; was it all that bad?

U.S. 90s
rock group The Bloodhound Gang became last week’s cause célèbre as footage
revealed Hasselhoff defiling not 1 but 2 flags during a gig in Odessa at the
end of July. The first video to go viral shows the guitarist stuffing the
Russian tricolor down the crotch of his trousers and then pulling it out from
behind. Of course, with this in mind, no one could fail to see any other
‘flag-stunt’ performed by the reckless rock ‘n’ roller as anything less than a
political slight…

Quick to
retaliate, Russia cancelled the band’s tour, called for immediate deportation
and bade them a firm farewell with a torrent of raw eggs and tomatoes. Most
agreed, it was a thoroughly ‘below-the belt’ move.

Ukraine
however may have cause to feel slightly touched.

New footage
shows Hasselhoff performing a series of stunts involving the Ukrainian flag –
either accidentally or intentionally, but (arguably) not disrespectfully. In
one instance we see the topless bassist stumbling onto the stage with some
squirting device. As he proceeds to squirt the entire band members and audience
on a stage festooned with Ukrainian flags, it was hard not to miss at least one
of the blue and white national symbols.

Another
video shows the guitarist performing a vanishing-trouser trick, by magically transforming
his black pants into a Ukrainian flag. He then holds it up gloriously high above
his head whilst a mini Ukrainian flag covers the crown jewels.  In such a context, doesn’t this seem more
like homage?

Of course,
it all depends on your interpretation. But wouldn’t it be nice to see it more
as a “rock ‘n’ roll” thank you? Watch
the videos and see what you think…