"'I'd say the nearest Bono ever came to an Orangeman was when he met Take That at the BRIT Awards."
In case you haven't already heard dear reader, Bono and Jon Bon Jovi were born a couple of months apart, according to the American singer. Oh, and apparently the Irishman had Orangemen walking around his neighbourhood ready to beat him up when he was younger. Also according to the said singer.
In a recent Armchair Podcast interview, hosted by Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, the rocker claims that the U2 frontman, who grew up in Finglas, Dublin and also went to a comprehensive grammar school in Clontarf, was a Catholic boy who feared of being beaten up by Protestants.
When asked about how his upbringing influenced his songwriting, Jon Bon Jovi said it differed greatly to that of the Dublin man: "Bono is probably right at my age, he’s a couple of months older I think. His upbringing was obviously very different than mine.
"I never had the Orangemen walking through my neighbourhood saying, you know, get the Catholic kid and beat him up.
"You know I didn’t have any of that kind of turmoil in suburban New Jersey when you had a wonderful middle-class upbringing with two hard working parents. So, of course, you’re writing the happy anthemic song."
— [Dave Leahy] (@daveleahy) October 6, 2020
Either someone has been telling a few fibs, or Jon Bon Jovi has his wires crossed.
Here's some of the funniest reactions we've spotted on Twitter regarding this bizarre Bono and Jon Bon Jovi story. And no, Twitter is not going to let this slide.
I'd say the nearest Bono ever came to an Orangeman was when he met Take That at the BRIT Awards. https://t.co/hSakmOHxEY
— Philip Nolan (@philipnolan1) October 6, 2020
In fairness to Bono, there’s a reason why he thinks everyone’s an Orangeman https://t.co/JRyFtFTjPo pic.twitter.com/jKddPOAJf2
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) October 6, 2020
I remember getting the hard hat out for those brutal parades through Dublin’s Finglas - if it wasn’t for Bono joining with the Dalai Lama and He-Man to negotiate peace I don’t know where we’d all be today #Spoof ? https://t.co/rim1fql65i
— Allison Morris (@AllisonMorris1) October 6, 2020
The thing is you totally know that Bono has told this story so many times to so many of his show biz buddies, how he suffered growing up in the Loyalist heartland of ... Finglas! https://t.co/VQBWvyzC5a
— Tommy Maguire (@RationalPanic) October 6, 2020
Bono, Larry and the Edge confront an orange man in Coolock in the 80s. pic.twitter.com/z3alOvXZBH
— martinmcmahon (@williamhboney1) October 6, 2020
Well well well has Bono been telling wee fibs to his friends in Tinsel Town ? https://t.co/OYBuGq2PGW
— Dr Órfhlaith Campbell (@drorfh) October 6, 2020
A young Bono was made to wait hand and foot on the local Orange families pic.twitter.com/JBBKWCvwfK
— TharBarrSuperstar (@WildState) October 7, 2020
Little known fact - The Unforgettable Fire was written by #Bono after he was burnt out of Bombay Street.
— Louise Deery (@GoonerCailin) October 7, 2020
Here we have a photo of a young Bono confronting the RUC on the Dromcondra Rd in 1969#Bono #BonJovi pic.twitter.com/E02SgBraE7
— Seany McK (@SeanyMcK1) October 7, 2020
Ok it's either Bono is full of shit or Jon Bon Jovi is an incredibly stupid individual #Bono
— The Cork Coypu (@CorkCoypu) October 7, 2020
For those outside Ireland. Bono was raised in Dublin. The Orangemen (Protestants) are in the north/Belfast, not Dublin, in the Republic. Bono didn’t experience the conflict directly and there were certainly no loyalists beating him up. https://t.co/YRNzmErcef
— Tim Brannigan (@tim_brannigan) October 6, 2020
Neither did Bono, Bono was a rich Dublin kid and the only Orangeman he seen was in the Tango Orange advert.
— Eamon Melia (@EamonMelia) October 6, 2020
Bono should watch his mouth, going on about being oppressed by orange men. The whole of America has been oppressed by an orange man for years!! pic.twitter.com/JlI2bnzfPk
— The Sting (@TheSting17) October 6, 2020
Bono going on holiday with his family. pic.twitter.com/nF3LLbRbrI
— GMcKeown (@GerMcK1976) October 6, 2020
I can only assume Bono grew up in Willy Wonka’s Factory and the Oompa Loompas really hated his guts because he certainly didn’t live anywhere near the sash & bowler hat Brigade ??♂️ https://t.co/seuWnxxapT
— Jim Sheridan (@Jim_Sheridan) October 6, 2020
Bono on the 19a bus mentally preparing himself for the walk home through loyalist Finglas circa 1975pic.twitter.com/xt1WvTD2wJ
— Dame Dot Cottoncandy, Duchess of Walford ?? (@comagirlx) October 6, 2020
photo from bono's childhood supplied by jon bon jovi pic.twitter.com/onUWRMv1Am
— William F77 (@WF7710) October 7, 2020