‘Gangnam Style’ singer PSY’s anti-American past surfaces

South Korean singer PSY has become an international sensation thanks to “Gangnam Style,” the most watched YouTube video in history and has made appearances on several American shows from Today to Ellen DeGeneres. He’s even slated to perform before President Obama. However, before he became a star here, he had voiced anti-American sentiments, even once singing “Kill those f***ing Yankees.”

Mediate reports that back in 2002, PSY participated in a protest concert against the presence of American troops on the Korean peninsula and was seen smashing a small “American tank” and was met with applause from the audience. That performance came after two US soldiers had been acquitted for running over two young South Korean girls.

In 2004, he participated in another anti-American protest, this time against American military action in Iraq. It had come after a Korean missionary was beheaded by Islamist extremists in Iraq. PSY and other artists performed a song called “Dear American,” which featured a profanity-laced rap from PSY.

“Kill those f***ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives,” he rapped. “Kill those f***ing Yankees who ordered them to torture/Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers/Kill them all slowly and painfully.”

It should be interesting to see if these comments slow the popularity of “Gangnam Style,” which has now reached 900 million views on YouTube. It was also reported this week that he could make nearly $8 million from the track alone thanks to endorsement deals and iTunes revenue.

UPDATE: The Hollywood Reporter reports that PSY has issued an apology.