A clip that sees The Cure frontman Robert Smith launch into a withering putdown of the monarchy has gone viral.

In an unearthed interview from 2012 with Telerama.fr, Smith expressed his dislike for the British monarchy and how hereditary privilege is inherently wrong. He also discussed what he would do if he was ever offered an honour from the Royal Family.

“Any kind of hereditary privilege, it’s just wrong! It’s not just anti-democracy, it’s just inherently wrong,” Smith began. “What upsets me, is that some people who I’ve actually admired down the years, get offered a reward by the Royal Family, by the hereditary monarchy, and they take it, and they become Lord or Sir.”


At the end of the clip, Smith shared what he would do if he was ever offered an honour from the monarchy.

“Honestly, if I ever accepted, and I’m never going to get one, I would honestly cut off my own hands before I did that,” he said. “Because how dare they presume that they could give me an honour. I’m much better than them, they’ve never done anything, they’re fucking idiots.”

"How dare they presume they could give me an honour? I'm much better than them, they're fucking idiots" The ever majestic Robert Smith gives both barrels to the honours system ?pic.twitter.com/qSacwj3eMY — dave ❄️ ? (@davemacladd) April 26, 2019

A few names who famously declined honours from the Royal Family include David Bowie, author Roald Dahl and artist Lucian Freud. John Lennon famously returned his MBE in 1969, with a note to the Queen saying: “Your Majesty, I am returning this in protest against Britain’s involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts.

“With Love, John Lennon of Bag.”

Watch Robert Smith’s full interview below:


Meanwhile, Robert Smith went viral again last month when he gave a hilarious response to a reporter while being interviewed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Ahead of the iconic Crawley group being inducted at the New York ceremony, Smith and co. took to the red carpet to discuss receiving the accolade, their lengthy career, and the progress on new music.

At the top of the chat, the band were introduced by an enthusiastic interviewer, who also admitted to being a huge fan. “Congratulations The Cure – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees 2019! Are you as excited as I am?!” she asked.

Offering a typically-deadpan and blunt reply, Smith said: “By the sounds of it, no.”

Last week, fans from around the world sent birthday wishes to Robert Smith as he turned 60 on April 21.