James Blunt recently shared that he’s relieved he didn’t end up changing his name. Last month, the 50-year-old artist pledged to change his name to “whatever the public wants” if his debut album, Back to Bedlam, reached number one on its 20th anniversary.
In response, the public voted to rename him Blunty McBluntface, a nod to the 2016 campaign where the UK’s polar research ship was given the name Boaty McBoatface.
However, Back to Bedlam reached number seven, so the singer is thankful he didn’t have to follow through on the name change.
He posted a belated “Thank You” to fans, saying: “Thank You to everyone who helped get Back To Bedlam to No. 7 in the charts. It’s an amazing result after 20 years.
“I’m glad I didn’t have to change my name – looks like you’ll all have to put up with ‘James Blunt’ for another few decades…”
In the post, he also shared a photo of his driver’s license under the name: “Mr. Divock Origi.”
Fans hilariously reacted in the comments section, with one person writing: “IDK I think Divock Origi suits you.” Another person said: “Not disappointed that the press don’t have to call you Blunty Mcbluntface heading forward. It’s fine.”
A third person said: “I’ve very much enjoyed the journey over these last few weeks, cheers James!”
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, James Blunt re-released Back to Bedlam on October 11 and made a bold promise: if the album reached number one by Friday, he’d change his name to whatever his fans chose.
Blunt admitted he regretted the name-change offer, joking that his family might suffer most and that the “shame” of buying a James Blunt CD could be enough to deter fans from pushing him to number one.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Blunt shared his thoughts on this challenge: “The people I pity more is my family,” he said.
“I feel it was stupid of me, really, to offer to change my name if you got to number one because of the consequences.
“I feel though that the British public, they would have to live with the shame of… going out and buying and owning a James Blunt CD, (it) might be a deterrent enough.”
