James Blunt recently said he’s relieved he didn’t end up changing his name. Last month, the 50-year-old artist vowed 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 name him Blunty McBluntface, a nod to the 2016 campaign that renamed the British polar research vessel Boaty McBoatface.
However, Back to Bedlam reached number seven, so the singer is grateful he didn’t have to make the name change.
Posting a belated “Thank You” to fans, he said: “Thanks to everyone who helped get Back To Bedlam to number 7 in the charts. It’s a great 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 a few more decades…”
In the post, he also shared a photo of his driver’s license under the name: “Mr. Divock Origi.”
Fans responded hilariously in the comments section, with one person writing, “IDK I think Divock Origi suits you.” Another person said: ‘I’m not disappointed the press doesn’t have to call you Blunty Mcbluntface when you go forward. It’s fine.”
A third person said: “I’ve really enjoyed the trip over the last few weeks, cheers James!”
To celebrate his twentieth anniversary, James Blunt re-released Back to Bedlam on October 11 and made a bold promise: If the album reached number one on Friday, he would change his name to whatever his fans wanted.
Blunt admitted he regretted the name change offer, joking that his family might suffer the most and that the “embarrassment” of buying a James Blunt CD might be enough to put fans off buying him to push to number one.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Blunt shared his thoughts on the challenge: “The people I feel more sorry for are my family,” he said.
‘I actually think it’s stupid of me to offer to change my name if you were to become number one, because of the consequences.
“However, I feel like the British public would have to live with the shame of… going out and buying and owning a James Blunt CD, (it) could be a deterrent enough.”