As can probably be expected, American Idol finalist Adam Lambert’s “racy” performance at the American Music Awards has caused quite a stir. Reportedly, Lambert flipped off the audience, kissed a male musician and fondled several backup dancers.
But in his defense, Adam brought up an interesting point about double standards.
“If it were a female pop performer that were doing the moves that were on the stage, I don’t think there’d be nearly as much outrage at all,” said Lambert, according to a Yahoo! News report. In the article, “Adam Lambert on Outrage,” Yahoo goes on to write that Lambert said he thinks it’s because he is a gay male.
I didn’t see this year’s AMAs, but the Yahoo! article also discusses how Lambert is upset that female performers were able to get away with many other “adult material” type things during the broadcast. (Lady Gagasmashing whiskey bottles and Janet Jackson grabbing a man’s crotch.)
I don’t follow enough entertainment news to know for sure if he’s right, but I think he may be on to something. It seems like every few months, we (the public) hear some controversy about some woman doing something controversial on television – Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl, Britney and Madonna kissing, etc. However, we never hear (or at least I don’t) about a man’s controversial performance.
Also, each time one of these female performances take place, I notice some public outcry about what is and is not appropriate on television and at what times. But somehow, the outrage seems more excessive and different this time with Lambert.
According to the Associated Press, ABC reports that more than 1,500 people called to complain about “Lambert’s sexually charged performance.” The AP articles goes on to report that the network characterizes the response as “moderate.”
Monique, You don’t have as many blog posts the second half of the class as the first. Still, yours are quite insightful. Thanks for being so observant and for adding so much to the class. GRADE: A-
This is so true! Remember when Britney Spears and Madonna kissed? There was no outrage, just strange titillation. I don’t think what Lambert did was any different–it’s just that he says he is gay and Brit and Madonna both purport to be heterosexual. So what they did excited the male fantasy. UGH.