Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage has been caught in a major online embarrassment after being tricked into recording a glowing tribute for convicted paedophile and former Lostprophets frontman, Ian Watkins.
The Costly Cameo Prank
A prankster, identified as John Smith, paid £98 for a personalised video message from the prominent Brexit campaigner on the celebrity shout-out platform Cameo. Farage, seemingly unaware of who he was discussing, complied with the request. In the video, posted on Friday 16 January 2026, Farage described Watkins, who was serving a 29-year sentence for horrific child sex offences and died in HMP Wakefield last year, as a "really good guy".
He went further, stating that Watkins "loved his children" and would be "sorely, sorely missed". Alarmingly, Farage even used the phrase "Mad lols", a term the depraved singer had infamously used in correspondence about his crimes.
A Pattern of Poor Due Diligence
The prankster, John Smith, expressed serious concern over Mr Farage's apparent lack of due diligence before recording the message for a figure as notorious as Watkins. This incident is not an isolated one for the politician on the Cameo platform.
It echoes a similar event in 2021 where Farage was duped into reading a message that offered support for the IRA. These repeated episodes raise questions about the vetting processes employed by public figures when accepting paid requests on such services.
Repercussions and Public Reaction
The video has sparked widespread condemnation and disbelief. Critics argue that a figure of Farage's public stature has a responsibility to conduct basic checks, especially when his endorsements are for sale. The incident highlights the potential pitfalls of the burgeoning 'celebrity message' economy, where context and intent can be easily manipulated.
For Farage, it represents another significant public relations mishap, damaging his credibility and drawing unwanted attention to his judgement. The fallout underscores the vulnerability of even seasoned politicians to sophisticated online hoaxes.
