Singer Beth Orton removes ‘1973’ video where she spray painted a Joshua tree

(YouTube via Z107.7)
(YouTube via Z107.7)
(YouTube via Z107.7)

A British singer quickly learned people get really pissed off when you show up to their trees and plants.

Beth Orton paint 2

Beth Orton released a video for her song “1973” on Friday – then quickly took it off the internet (because everyone knows, deleting things on the internet makes them go away forever) – because people were pissed:

The singer took it down after upsetting plenty of Joshua Tree residents by spray painting a Joshua tree and cholla cactus green, blue, red, and orange in the video.

Beth Orton Paint 3

Orton has since apologized on her Facebook page, saying “I am so sorry. I feel sick with disgust. I was told the tree was already dead. … Please let me know what I can do to help make some kind of amends. I did not direct the video and was following direction but now I know what I have been part of I feel utterly devastated and of course take responsibility for my part. I am truly and deeply sorry.”

Beth Orton Paint 4

The lot is owned by the Noah Purifoy Foundation. A spokesperson for the foundation told Z107.7 that they did not give Orton’s crew permission to film on the property.

A resident of Joshua Tree has a petition on Change.org calling for Orton to make a donation to the Mojave Desert Land Trust to pay for the clean up.

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(Images via YouTube / Z107.7)