Obama confuses George Osborne for soul singer

BARACK Obama was forced to apologise after repeatedly calling Chancellor George Osborne after 1980s US soul singer Jeffrey Osborne at this week’s G8 conference.

Barack Obama during the G8 summit. Picture: Getty

The American president reportedly made the mistake on three separate occasions, leaving Osborne visibly shaken.

The gaffe occurred as the Chancellor was personally briefing the world’s most powerful leaders on plans for a tax avoidance crackdown.

Jeffrey Osborne is best known for his 1982 hit ‘On the Wings of Love’. In an interview with Sky News, Jeffrey said that he was “flattered” that the President thought enough of him to confuse him with George. He added that when next in the UK, he would try to “hook up with George” to perform a duet of his biggest hit.