Bob Dylan reveals why he took so long to respond to his Nobel Prize win

Last week we reported that members of the Nobel Prize committee were not happy with singer Bob Dylan after he failed to acknowledge his prestigious win.

The star was branded “impolite and arrogant” for “refusing” to comment on being awarded the Nobel Prize for literature, but the star has now broken his silence and revealed that he had a pretty good reason for staying schtum.

Speaking to Sara Danius, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, Dylan explained: “I appreciate the honour so much, the news about the Nobel prize left me speechless.”

Well, that’s the reason for his silence then, eh?

There was also doubt over whether or not the star would attend the prizegiving ceremony but in a separate interview with the Daily Telegraph, Dylan said he’d “absolutely” attend if it’s possible.

He added to the paper: “It’s hard to believe… Amazing, incredible. Whoever dreams about something like that?”

Dylan was chosen for the prestigious prize “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”, and President Barack Obama even took to Twitter to congratulate the star on his win, dubbing Dylan as “one of my favourite poets”.

However, the star was soon criticised after he failed to comment on his win or return calls from the committee.

Speaking to Swedish newspaper, Dagens Nyheter, Nobel Prize academy member, Per Wastberg ranted: “One can say that it is impolite and arrogant… He is who he is.

“We were aware that he can be difficult and that he does not like appearances when he stands alone on the stage.”

Dylan is the first American to win the award since novelist Toni Morrison in 1993.