The most notorious scandal followed an incident in Rostov-on-Don, 2004. At a press conference he insulted (using Russian obscene language) a female journalist who had asked why so many of his songs were remakes of American and European hits. Kirkorov, responded to the question by telling the female reporter that he was "tired of her pink blouse, her tits, and her microphone" and demanding that she leave the room immediately. When she eventually did, his bodyguards attacked her outside and destroyed her tape recorder. The incident led to a major response and discussions in the mass media.