(Picture by local artist)
Heartfelt letter received by our own Phillis yesterday, regarding my portrait of Bush Jnr. above. Brilliant.
Dear Mr. Brown
The disrespect you show for the highest office of the land in the United States of America is reprehensible and the lowest, cheapest form of denigration imaginable. How disgusting that you would choose to interpret the former President of the United States in such a way.
Absolutely appalling!
I was very impressed by the caricatures of other famous people, too bad you are so immature. No matter what my politics are, I would never treat the present President in such a way, regardless of whether I agree with his beliefs or not.
Signed,
Susan Abernethy
The Libertarian in me is screaming “THE STATE IS NOT SOCIETY YOU IDIOT! YOU OWE NOTHING TO THE OFFICE!”
Ugh. Some people just seem to view their government like Catholics view the pope. Yuck.
For shame Derren…you should go to your room and think about what you have done.
Present president… That says it all… heehee
Priceless
I don’t understand the complaint… looks just like him to me…
“I would never treat the present President in such a way” – where has she been for the last year and few months?!
I would love to know what you replied to that!
Well, you made an impression.
nice post
I think someone just doesn’t ‘get’ caricatures .
LOL ‘present President’
lol butthurt.
She does know what a ‘caricature’ is, right?
God Derren, how could you do that to the current president?!
Am I missing your point here, Derren? X
- Yes – Phillis
ha ha ha !!! typical…immature im not sure about that!! HONEST maybe looks quite like him lol!!!! its nice to know that she also has a sense of humour!! keep them comming derren maybe you could start an uproar in politics!! watch this space haha!!
Too right!
As we all know, the vast majority of caricaturists are generally respectful, restrained and never show any political leanings in anything they do cause that would be grossly inappropriate!
I bet Gerald Scarfe and Steve Bell and those guys behind Spitting Image wish they’d stuck to their dayjobs now! [Sarcasm off]
@Martin, even louder than the Libertarian in me is politely screaming the Englishman “It’s not even an office of my land”.
Reprehensible, disgusting, appalling? I think she needs to look back over her beloved President’s term in office.
And what did she mean by ‘his beliefs?’ was she insinuating it is mocking his religion? Or did she mean his actions during his presidency?
And I believe she would never treat the president in ‘such a way’ because I doubt she the talent to do this
Rant over
It is a long-standing British tradition to make fun of politicians. We have been doing it for centuries.
I wonder if Ms. Abernathy considers the very unpatriotic attacks on President Obama to be equally unfair?
C.
I think this is hugely insulting… to chimpanzees.
Some say the point of art is to ellict an emotioal response fron the viewer.
Well done m’dear.
Really though that’s quite a pathetic thing to write.
And he wasn’t even our president. We’ve never even had a president. Her argument’s falling apart all over the place. I think someone has a little crushy on a certain former president of the USA. Fundamentally she’s saying “Don’t criticise him. I’m deeply in love with him and yearn for his primate-like embrace.”
“The point of any comedic work is not to simply amuse, as that is the suit of a jester, but to provoke thought in matters one does not spend enough thought on.”
By definition – You win.
I think she said “present president” referring to Obama. Saying that while she disagrees with Obama, she wouldn’t draw a caricature of him like a monkey. I think that everybody is entitled to their opinion and the portrait is pretty awesome!
P.S. I love how the stars are made into a dunce cap!
I hope you feel suitably chastened Derren. Imagine taking the Mickey out of someone so respected and intellectually superior to yourself! Tut tut Mr. Brown,
I think that Derren’s bang on with this interpretation of Dubya, as Dubya has the oratory and intellactual capacity of a chimpanzee. Many YouTube videos can back this up, especially his explanation of the term ‘sovereignity’.
Hardly appalling, more like accurate!
P.S. yes, I know thats a picture of Bush, I was just commenting on how she was explaining that she wouldn’t “disrespect” the current president, despite how she feels about him.
It seems fairly obvious to me that she meant that she would not ridicule Obama in the same way as Derren has done with Bush…
Anyway, brilliantly done Derren. The resemblance is uncanny.
Art is about creating a reaction or a mood.
So I would say you’ve done very well here Derren!
I wonder if she has a passport…………….
I am shocked at this misrepresentation – Whilst there is a similarity between the look of a chimpanzee and President Bush I simply must object.
Chimpanzees are intelligent, of course I realise that you are going for a purely visual representation. And in this instance I would of thought you would of chosen a steaming pile of shit as a fair representation.
Having said that I am actually trying to pick fault, but I fully understand why you have chosen to visually represent the jug eared, monkey faced war mongering twat in this manner.
Quite a lot of characters used to simply say that I approve, and approve even more so now that you have an official letter of disaproval. Hurrah!
I dont get it, all I see is a picture of George W Bush, surely he should be commended for his photo realistic accuracy?
Thats one d best of Derren’s art if u ask me…i loved it…its near enough a reflection of d PREVIOUS US preseident… And am sure art is supposed to be an illustration of how you see things and what you see… And that caricature captures it excellently…
Hikky
You are a very bad person, clearly.
I guess she never saw “Planet of the Apes”. Surprising, what with Charlton Heston in it and all
Hihihihahahohoo Lolol!
What Martin said. This is the reason I have no faith in humanity. However, much lols.
You’ve certainly hit a nerve there, Derren…. (and I thought us Brits were sensitive! lol)
LC x
I think she’s saying she’d never do that to Obama, hence the ‘current’ president.
But beautiful, beautiful painting you have there. Looks just like a photo of him
I think she is suggesting that she would not refer to Obama in the way Derren has Bush, even though she disagrees with his politics.
Can\’t say I agree with the idea that presidents, former or current, should be immune from criticism in any form, but I don\’t think she was mistaking who is currently in charge of the States.
Maybe I’m misunderstanding but by “present president”, I believe she means that she wouldn’t treat Obama this way, even if she disagrees with his politics, and in the same manner Bush shouldn’t be treated this way. By present president she means Obama, she is not saying Bush is still the president.
Of course, I still disagree with her
. Just attempting to make things clear.
I’m just going to say to you what my mammy said to me when I was a naughty little girl.
“I’m not angry with you. I’m *disappointed* with you – and that is so much worse. *sad face*”
Nah … didn’t work with me either.
Rock on Derren! Your likeness looks like Bush did when you put on 3D glasses.
I too am appalled.
Chimpanzees are a very intelligent species. To link them to former president George Bush Jnr. is indeed an insult.
How dare you?
Love, Peter. x
Present? Maybe her email came via a time warp.
I see where she is coming from….. thee ear’s are far too small, you should have painted them bigger
LOL I think Mike summed it up perfectly with ‘butthurt’
I don’t think she’s calling Bush the “present President”. She appears to be equating Derren’s feelings about Bush with her own about Obama and saying she would never do such a thing. She’s not saying it very clearly is all.
Brilliant! Always was one of my favourites, the likeness is uncanny!
Ahem…What I actually mean is, go and sit on the naughty step at once Derren. I shall be along to spank you shortly. :p
She doesn’t mean that Bush Jr. is the current president, just that she would not do such a thing to ANYONE who was president at the time. Which is a nice idea I suppose, however one that some members of the Republican party do not share – anyone remember the cartoons showing Obama (the “present President”) as a monkey? What about the one where two cops shoot a monkey and complain about the stimulous package? It has been done a lot. Really, people need to know what their own party is doing before they complain about an artist making a piece of art – especially an artist who is not an American.
Is this how you get your kicks, Mr Brown? For shame! I would have thought a man of your intelligence would have regarded another learned man in higher esteem but it seems that your intelligence exists only to mock others of a same disposition! That poor man has had nothing but bad luck; if it weren’t for his quick thinking and superior decisiveness the world would be in a poor state indeed! It’s this poor judgement of character, this slander, this…. DEBACLE that keeps us from being a utopia and separates our friends and neighbours, it alienates us from the rest of the world!
No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend!
And incidentally, neither do I ; D
She meant that this was impolite towards the monkey
She meant that this was impolite towards the monkey.
Derren you are an utter genius my darling that is so fricken hilarious I can barely stop laughing hehehe
thanks for the much needed giggle honey
love & hugs xxx Chantelle
She wouldn’t have complained if you caricatured a democrat president.
Must say it is a bit demeaning to chimpanzees that the mentally unstable, drunken, oil-grabbing buffoon happens to look like them in a rudimentary way; however I’m sure they’ll forgive you for portraying such a retarded gimp to their likeness.
After all, they don’t live on their father’s money, or buy their way out of court cases, or ruthlessly take over nations their country’s policies set up on a made up reason, just because they want the oil & to install their own construction firms to repair the devastation they caused at inflated prices.
Who who who (birds and jungle noise in the background) is that supposed to be?
Can’t wait to see the portrait of the guy in the funny hat.
Hahaha, THANKS, thats made my day. Seriously, thought, that’s an insult to chimpanziees, they can pee in their own mouths you know!! :O
susan obviously never saw his painting of maggie thatcher! :0
It is precisely because I am a patriotic American that I find this portrait to be spot on. It’s also the reason I celebrate your freedom to paint whomever you please however you please. Rock on, Mr. Brown!
Haha, you racist homophobe , you!
Wonderful portrait, but didn’t Steve Bell get there first? Pah. You are both great.
American Pride and the obsessive notion that patriotism is one of the key virtues of a good citizen reminds me of the mindlessness of faith viewpoints. Doubt is verboten.
It is the essence of a just society that no individual is above criticism.
Whatever a democracy is, they don’t really have one.
It is one of the grandest brainwashing schemes.
An insular society, creating insular and paranoid people.
Respect to all the Americans who have shed their brainwashing and seek the truth.
Same goes for open-minded Israelis, who have a really difficult time to see past the hatred that is spouted in their name.
Oh, and the same goes for the British, especially the tabloid readers. Good luck with that.
In this comparison, I think the real apology should go to the ape.
I’m an American, please go ahead and make fun of any of our presidents. It doesnt offend in the least. Nobody should be above citicism, especially in the United States where people tout having the freedom of speach.
I think its safe to assume Susan has respect for the former president so in her mind he is above all critisism, sadly that mindset is all to common in my country. Anyone can and should be laughed at when the moment calls for it.
“In America, anyone can become president. That’s the problem.” – George Carlin
Its called freedom of speech. (I am sixth generation American and hard core Rebublican…. this is called expression. its healthy and part of democracy.)
Bravo Derren. Quite an accurate representation I might add.
She has a point. I don’t remember Dubya having a grey beard.
But does she realise the caricature is of Dybya, not Obama? (“I would never treat the present President in such a way”)
A caricature of Obama as a monkey would either be stupid racism or a sign that you had no idea what a monkey looked like. But Dubya looked like a PGTips chimp in an expensive suit…
Hahaa I agree Derren you really are so very bloody immature. People who send silly complaint letters are so irritating . The painting is amazing anyway so not to worry about the whining woman xx
Just be glad that there’s a very large ocean separating us from the good old US of A.
I sometimes wonder how they’ve managed to survive for so long!
Susan Abernethy, It\’s people like you, who through their ignorance, try to ruin it for everyone else.
I fail to see how this personally effects you, or why you felt the need to write to the Artist.
I think it\’s important to get your facts right before you condemn people.
Bush thankfully is not president now. Being a ‘president’ does not automatically command respect anyway.
If you put as much energy into pursuing the real ‘disgusting’ things in life, perhaps your compulsion to interfere would actually benefit people.
If you want to find some truly disgusting images search IRAQ WAR and no doubt you will see
exactly what that president has done which is infinitely more ‘appalling’
Personally I find the portrait, both talented, funny, apt and even bordering on flattering !
I think it’s hysterical. As an American who is living in the UK people were hating me for all his bad choices. This is how I will remember him.
Wow, intelligence fail!
LMAO shes going to be pissed that its made the blog hehe
I suspect that Susan’s comment about the “Present President” is accurate and sincere, though poorly presented. I think she knows that this is a caricature of Bush and I think she intended to say that even though she disagrees with Obama’s policies, she would not consider drawing a similar caricature of Obama.
Or I could be wrong.
As to the painting; it’s not one of your best Darren. The only Bush feature I recognize is the mouth.
Silly woman.
Anyone would have thought you drew Mohammed!
The church and republicans now don’t like you Derren.
Hold on… Aren’t they the same?
I think the image shows clever wit, impressive art skills, and a bold statement. Plus you’re not American.
…oh, maybe she didn’t think it was a caricature of G.W.B.
I could see how she could be very racist and ignorant now…oh boy.
This beckons a sensible & grown up response…LOL LOL LOL SWEARY LOL XD
Burn…
That is, until you realise that she has called Bush the former AND present President in the same letter, that she writes like a little girl in a strop (“Too bad you are so immature…and you smell bad!” *flounces off*) and that the portrait is an incredible likeness of Bush. Then her opinion doesn’t matter.
I think it’s an insult to chimps personally! x
Luckily that wasnt a portrait of Obama, imagine the complaints then!
I hope you are standing in the corner
Thank you for sharing…. hope they’ll still let you in the US of A
His beliefs? I look forward to the day when an AI system is making decisions based on what is efficient & effective, and not on beliefs!
That’s one persons opinion. And everyone here loves your caricatures. They’re masterpieces.
Guys, guys, guys. You’re missing a golden oportunity to write your own insanely hilarious complaint letters in this thread. Here, let me help.
DEAR MR BROWN,
WHY DO YOU STUFF DEAD ANIMALS WITH SAND ETC? THAT IS WAY TOO EASY AND BORDERING ON PLAIN COWARDICE, YOU SHOULD TRY TO STUFF A LIVE OSTRICH TO PROVE YOUR SKILLZ OR PERHAPS AN ALLIGATOR. I AM OUTRAGED THAT YOU HAVE AVOIDED THIS CHALLENGE TO DATE.
It helps if you write in capitals, becase 1. he’s far away and 2. it makes you sound angrier.
At least you didn’t paint him flinging fistfuls of his own excrement.
If she interprets George W Bush from that picture then she only has herself to be disgusted with.
Who is Susan Abernethy? I simply must meet her and exchange ideas…
whew! phillis, is this the most comments in response to a blog post ever? :0
You mean it is NOT Obama?
Give her a break, Derren. She got further than “Awwww a monkey!”
I can’t help but wonder what sort of attention you would get for making a caricature of Mohamed…
just subliminal message all the death threats away and you’d be fine
I quite agree with a previous comment that the likeness is rather uncanny. The Artist is quite entitled to exercise his artistic licence…Remove the excess bush of hair & see for yourself…Symbolism – Bush is/was involved in some pretty hairy stuff. Furthermore, the bush is where he belongs. His claim to fame…DE-VOLUTION. Too bad the vast majority of Americans adopted the policy of ‘MONKEY SEE; MONKEY DO’!
Sometimes I am reminded that George Bush is no longer our president, and it gives me a momentary burst of extreme happiness and relief. (And now we almost kinds will be getting good health care…..reasonably soon.)
Thanks Derren!
(almost KINDA I mean)
Well…considering other caricatures were not made to look like animals, Susan’s anger is justified. Looking through the whole catalogue of Derren’s work, even I laughed at this one. But now it’s only fair that Derren make another caricature of George Bush (a nice one!) and dedicate it to Susan.
Ha I bet if you drew one of Gordon Brown you would not provoke that kind of response, you would probably recieve congratulatory letters !!!
Derren Brown for Prime Minister!!!
Never mind Bush Jnr being offended, what about the Chimp?!?!?! Loving your work Derren as always!
Maybe she needs a banana – no, no, that’s too cheap (lol). Personally, I lurve it!!! As long as the chimpanzee who posed isn’t offended about having to pose as George Bush Jr., it’s fine by me
. x
hahahahaha…funny. on all levels. this is your best work! shame the United States Of America have failed to have a sense of humour about it! she clearly does not speak for them all…
Just go and sit on the naughty step!
(you could be there some time)
Seriously, why don’t some people have a sense of humour? (note there’s two Us in that word)
Keep up the good work (but you knew I was thinking that anyway!)
I think your former president made a good job himself of disrespecting the highest office in your land by some of the comments he made while in office…. oh and have you seen fahrenheit 911…..
Personally I think the portrait is the double of Derrens uncle Gordon………
Make a great cover for one of those books on Bushisms.
I suspect if Susan A. got over her own misplaced sense of “maturity” and her kowtowing to her silly American sacred cows, she would really rather enjoy such caricaturing.
She really needs to get a life. If you drew him as a piece of crap, that would have been more appropriate. How you could insult chimps by making them look like our last president is beyond me Derren! Chimps are smart and don\’t mess up their land for generations to come. Chimps have very powerful brains and people like them. The chimp community is probably really ticked off right now. If they could type, they\’d be writing in.
Most of us here in the USA, republicans or democrats are ashamed of President Bush. He was by far the worst thing to happen to the USA EVER. Those that say he was wonderful are living in a fantasy world. Since they are hardcore republicans, they don\’t want to admit their president was a failure. Next they\’ll want to nominate some idiot from Alaska. WOW!
I feel so very strongly that I must endorse the outrage and upset felt by many at how you have so thoughtlessly debased the noble chimpanzee!!!!
Can’t see what the problem is.. I think it is the chimps that should be complaining.. great piece of artwork by the way.
Susan Abernethy: you utter imbecile! ever heard of our basic rights and freedoms? for example our freedom of opinions, whether orally, aurally, written or graphically represented? Its people like you who decide to voice your opinions without taking good care not to insult the opinions of others. Caricatures of “famous” people aren’t drawn to insult, but are a comical representation of their character. You should not get annoyed by the peoples opinions because they do not matter to you; facts matter.I always say, ” If you take my opinions as fact, you would be imposing me on yourself”. please take note. you can disregard this comment; you don’t have to accept it.
love the picure Derren, silly woman. @Davey D, very funny too
Such a complaint is actualy rather hilarious! I suggest that derren finds a picture of her on facebook and turns her into a horrible creature for our delight!
I also think this letter was from bush himself…but faked the name at the bottom bless him…all mistakes in the letter and ‘not suppporting’ the current leader backs up my idea!
you know, whatever else he was, old `George Bush could laugh at himself. plus he got a lot worse from his own people. i do not feel though, that i have to ‘respect’ or show respect to another country’s government. i have no respect for my own! plus what have they ever done for me? sort your head out girl. save respect for those who deserve it and stop taking things so personally.
Well, the painting is really unoriginal. George Bush as a chimpanzee? 90% of comedians / wannabe political sceptics have made that joke. It’s easy and overdone.
When the letter writer says “present president”, people seem to be interpreting that as referring to Bush, but she referred to Bush as the Former President. When she says she wouldn’t treat the present president in such a way, she IS referring to Obama, and she is saying that whether or not she agrees with what Obama says, she wouldn’t attack him in that kind of way. People seem to simply be reading her letter in the way they want to read it, as opposed to how it is actually written.
HA HA …. Brilliant!! touched a nereve there Derren
That is funny!!!!
Clearly, she has got no clue what satire is. Oh hang on, she’s a Former Colonial…
Does anyone else think maybe she made a mistake and thinks this is a raciest issue and thought the drawing was meant to be of the real current president?
Past – present president = potayto – potahto………
Indeed it is appalling. Depicting that poor monkey as the lesser intelligent and genetically thrown back Bush ! I know you made a TV special entitled The Messiah but you really are just a very naughty boy ; )
Just as well you didnt depict the current President as an ape imagine how much more hate mail you might of got from these disenlightened fools
Naughty naughty! HA!
Seriously, anyone would think that America wasn’t the country where freedom of speech rules!
Just appreciate art and expression for what it is. Besides if you can’t laugh at the serious things in life how can you appreciate thier gravity!
Keep it up Derren x
I had one of these but a little harsher when I likened Bush Jr to Forest Gump. i thought i might have to move to a safe house for a while.
Priceless
Ooohh well, at least the idiot isn’t in power anymore.
The current president knows what way up to hold a book at least!
gosh yes, how DARE you exercise the right of free speech? HOW DARE YOU?!??!
Sheesh
I too find this painting extremely offensive. If I was a chimpazee I would’t want my face to look like a President, Bush or otherwise!
Well! That is certainly someone without a sense of humour! I saw it and laughed out loud! Doesn’t mean its disrespectful, why are some people so damn serious………. a prime example of why the world is in such a shite state…………. lighten up and see things for what they are………. just a bit of humour!
I love it Derren for its brilliance and artistic qualities, as I do all of your work. xxx
present President is pretty funny!!
Is this why Spitting Image never made it in America?!! Imagine if she’d seen the US version!!
I hope you are ashamed of yourself Derren…
In no way did the Chimpanzees deserve to be mocked like this…..
You are a very bad man. *gives derren evil eyes*
This woman must be oblivious to the countless portrayals of Bush as a chimp by many other artists.
Ooh, you are naughty – but I like it!!
lol
now you can try and do your magic on susan and make her realize some things, can’t you?
Great job Derren. I like the way you used somebody’s criticism to get people’s attention. I LOVE your work… you are my favorite entertainer. I’m sure that you will soon get the recognition that you deserve. By the way, it would be great if you could share more of your thoughts – such as during your conversation with Richard Dawkins. You’re understanding of human communication is phenomenal. Never underestimate your influence my friend.
nah that ain’t G.W Bush that monkey seems way too intellegent!!!
maybe the complaint is from Bush himself. Sounds just like him. “present president” XD
And that letter is exactly the reason we are all in the amount of doo doo we’re currently in. Peoples’ (or should I say Slaves) blind obedience to rules and regulations that their wealthy masters have created to control them.
Related monkey film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZeiSKnhOBc
The writer of the letter is oppressing Derren, when all he wants is a banana. Shame.
Yo, Derren.
So that one’s not your self portrait?
She was from the American South, no doubt. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution (full episodes online) but Southerners aren’t commonly bright. Race is a sensitive subject in America but everyone wants to be morally superior and not admit to their biases so they in part elected him for he was the obvious lesser of the evils. Also they wanted to make history and be the first and greatest country to do blah blah blah. Generally America is the perceived ‘best’ (obviously wrong but I’m assuming my sense of the world’s unspoken assumption via their behavior) because of a few considerably ‘maladjusted’ individuals who suffer from avarice and for its sizable landmass. Most of all though, due to severe over-sensitivity and its resulting political correctness.
to all u ppl complaining, i say to you, GET A LIFE. there are more important things going on in the world, ppl r dying, ppl are starving, etc, stop acting like a bunch of victor mildrews, wise up and leave derren alone u sados. ps derren great show in belfast. ur fantastic x
To be fair though, you did request this kind of letter in your book! It’s also good that the complainer recognises the former president’s features. So must be a grain of truth in it somewhere.
Love the Judi Dench pic too.
you know what, i dont see the problem, all i see is a very good portrait of bush junior
Now that the wonderful(ha) legacy left to us by the Bush family, but blamed on others, has started to piss off even their supporters I weep when I chance upon someone who blindly follows them! Oh my, you painted a picture of Bush as a chimp, it should have been a horse’s ass! Maybe next time you can paint it as a Monkey(any monkey) throwing shit, then it would be even more accurate!