James Blunt offers his music to New Zealand authorities to disperse anti-vaccine protesters

Not everyone is a fan of the chart-topping British singer-songwriter James Blunt — and New Zealand authorities are counting on it.

Amid recent protests against coronavirus vaccine mandates in the island nation, authorities have been playing music including Barry Manilow tunes and “Macarena” in an attempt to disperse crowds. Addressing the tactic over the weekend, Blunt offered up his own discography, tweeting at New Zealand Police, “Give me a shout if [Manilow] doesn’t work.”

Trevor Mallard, the speaker of New Zealand’s House of Representatives, joined in on the joke, responding, “@JamesBlunt we will take up your very kind offer. My only doubt is whether it is fair to our @nzpolice officers but I think they will be able to cope.”

James Blunt | CREDIT: DAVE BENETT/GETTY IMAGES

Blunt, 47, is known for his self-deprecating manner. In 2014, he told Hello that his signature song “was force-fed down people’s throats” and became “annoying.”

He also poked fun at himself last month amid the Joe Rogan podcast controversy, tweeting, “If @spotify doesn’t immediately remove @joerogan, I will release new music onto the platform.”