Boris Johnson sings 'I Will Survive' amid calls to resign
Allow Boris Johnson to explain why he'll survive as British prime minister ... in song.
Johnson, who has faced calls to resign following revelations of parties held during COVID-19 lockdown, recently brought on Guto Harri as his new director of communications — and sang him the Gloria Gaynor song "I Will Survive" to indicate he'll make it through the scandal, BBC News reports. Harri himself revealed as much in an interview with the Welsh magazine Golwg360.
"I asked 'Are you going to survive Boris?'" Harri said. "And he said in his deep, slow and purposeful voice and started to sing a little while finishing the sentence and saying 'I Will Survive.' He invariably invited me to say 'You've got all your life to live' and he replied, 'I've got all my love to give,' so we got a little blast from Gloria Gaynor!"
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The U.K. government was recently criticized in a report by civil servant Sue Gray for "difficult to justify" behavior pertaining to gatherings that were held while COVID-19 restrictions were in effect, including one for Johnson's birthday. "At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time," Gray said. Johnson has apologized for the gatherings but said he will not resign.
Harri also assured the British public that Johnson is "not a complete clown" but actually a "very likable character," explaining that after their spontaneous musical number, they had a "serious discussion about how to get the government back on track and how we move forward."
Asked about the "I Will Survive" anecdote by ITV News, Johnson dodged the question but said he's been focused on dealing with "the big problems that the country faces."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Who will the new limits on student loans affect?The Explainer The Trump administration is imposing new limits for federal student loans starting on July 1, 2026
-
Why does Susie Wiles have MAGA-land in a panic?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Trump’s all-powerful gatekeeper is at the center of a MAGA firestorm that could shift the trajectory of the administration
-
The most memorable podcasts of 2025The Week Recommends A round-up of the year's top podcasts that kept listeners tuned in
-
Hegseth rejects release of full boat strike footageSpeed Read There are calls to release video of the military killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 missile strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat
-
Trump vows naval blockade of most Venezuelan oilSpeed Read The announcement further escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro
-
Kushner drops Trump hotel project in SerbiaSpeed Read Affinity Partners pulled out of a deal to finance a Trump-branded development in Belgrade
-
Senate votes down ACA subsidies, GOP alternativeSpeed Read The Senate rejected the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, guaranteeing a steep rise in health care costs for millions of Americans
-
Abrego García freed from jail on judge’s orderSpeed Read The wrongfully deported man has been released from an ICE detention center
-
Indiana Senate rejects Trump’s gerrymander pushSpeed Read The proposed gerrymander would have likely flipped the state’s two Democratic-held US House seats
-
Democrat files to impeach RFK Jr.Speed Read Rep. Haley Stevens filed articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
-
$1M ‘Trump Gold Card’ goes live amid travel rule furorSpeed Read The new gold card visa offers an expedited path to citizenship in exchange for $1 million
