Damon Albarn's Awkward Graham Norton Show Moment Sparks Feud Flashback
Damon Albarn, the 57-year-old frontman of Gorillaz and Blur, raised eyebrows last week with a confrontational moment on The Graham Norton Show. During the Friday episode, after performing with Gorillaz, Albarn joined guests Adrian Lester, Leo Woodall, Stephen Graham, and Kaley Cuoco on the famous sofa. While promoting his band's upcoming tour, he directly called out host Graham Norton for not inviting him back to the show sooner, prompting awkward laughter from the fellow guests.
Norton, 62, managed to diffuse the situation humorously, but this incident is far from the first time Albarn has caused discomfort on television or engaged in public spats with fellow celebrities. Footage from his 2015 appearance on the same show has since gone viral, showing Albarn looking quiet and bored while his Blur bandmates laughed heartily, with viewers noting he appeared "sulky" and eager to leave.
The Britpop Rivalry: Blur vs. Oasis and a Love Triangle
Much of Albarn's early success was fueled by the intense chart rivalry between Blur and Oasis, famously dubbed The Battle of Britpop. While the groups were pitted against each other commercially, the feud ran deeper personally. In August 1995, Blur moved the release of their single Country House to the same day as Oasis' Roll With It, a move Albarn attributed to a cheeky dig from Liam Gallagher at a celebration party.
Noel Gallagher later claimed the tension stemmed not from musical competition but from a love triangle involving Albarn and his brother Liam, with both allegedly involved with the same woman. Alan McGee, who signed Oasis to Creation Records, supported this account, stating the situation "created the Britpop war." The rivalry escalated, with Noel once infamously wishing Albarn and Blur bandmate Graham Coxon would "catch AIDS and die," a remark he later retracted, blaming drugs.
Despite the bitterness, Albarn later reflected in Blur's documentary No Distance Left to Run that he saw Oasis as "bullies" he had to endure. Over time, the trio reconciled, with Noel buying Albarn a drink as an olive branch when they met at a bar.
Other Celebrity Clashes: From Adele to Taylor Swift
Albarn's history of feuds extends beyond Britpop. In 2025, rumors of a rift with Adele surfaced after they collaborated on music for her album. Albarn described her sound as "very middle of the road" and called her "insecure," leading Adele to express regret over working with him, calling it a "don't meet your idol" moment. She denied his insecurity claims, noting she was discussing fears about her career comeback.
In 2022, Albarn faced backlash from Taylor Swift after he suggested in an interview that she didn't write her own songs, distinguishing between songwriting and co-writing. Swift responded sharply on social media, defending her authorship and calling his comments "damaging." Albarn later apologized publicly, claiming his remarks were taken out of context for clickbait.
Other artists have also recounted awkward encounters. James Blunt claimed Albarn refused to be in a group photo on the Jools Holland show in 2007 because Blunt was present, calling it "petty stuff." Skunk Anansie frontwoman Skin revealed Albarn disliked her band, saying he treated her "like something he stepped in" during meetings.
Is Damon Albarn Showbiz's Most Miserable Man?
With a pattern of tense exchanges and public disputes, Albarn has earned a reputation for being contentious in the entertainment industry. From the Britpop era's heated rivalries to recent clashes with global stars like Adele and Taylor Swift, his behavior often sparks controversy. The recent Graham Norton incident adds another chapter to this legacy, highlighting his tendency to create awkward moments even on lighthearted talk shows.
While Albarn has apologized in some cases, such as with Swift, and downplayed others as misunderstandings, his history suggests a complex personality prone to friction. Whether driven by artistic integrity, personal grievances, or mere bluntness, Albarn's feuds remain a defining aspect of his public persona, cementing his status as one of music's most provocative figures.
