ABC Cancels Adam Lambert's Upcoming Performances on Jimmy Kimmel and New Year's Rockin' Eve

Is the Adam Lambert Backlash Going Too Far?

December 3, 2009

By now, we've all seen (or heard about) Adam Lambert's controversial performance at the American Music Awards, and the guy still can't seem to catch a break. When ABC canceled his appearance on Good Morning America, many of you felt that the uproar was justified. Now it's been over a week, and Lambert is still being punished by ABC — last night he tweeted that the network has canceled his upcoming appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live and New Year's Rockin' Eve.

I was taken aback by Lambert's antics on stage, but it seems like ABC is giving him more than just a slap on the wrist — I would trust that he'd learn his lesson and tone it down. What say you — do you think the backlash is going too far?

Source: Getty

20 Comments

CarissaSophia 3 years 23 weeks

I saw Lady Gaga's performance. The whole thing. I suppose that could be violent too, but not toward anyone but her self.Shoving someone's face in your crotch is not mainstream entertainment.It was a forced sex act simulated. You'd expect to see something like that on Law & Order SVU, but this was an award show.He'll have plenty more opportunities to prove he is more than just shocking.

CarissaSophia 3 years 23 weeks

I saw Lady Gaga's performance. The whole thing. I suppose that could be violent too, but not toward anyone but her self. Shoving someone's face in your crotch is not mainstream entertainment. It was a forced sex act simulated. You'd expect to see something like that on Law & Order SVU, but this was an award show. He'll have plenty more opportunities to prove he is more than just shocking.

Tamma1387 3 years 23 weeks

Thank you allyace! Come on really, Jimmy Kimmel, the same man that had barely dressed women jumping on trampolines for the opening credits for the Man Show? And almost violent? did you not see lady gaga at the VMAs a few weeks ago with fake blood on her torso? That's only the part I saw, I didn't even watch the whole thing.

popcorn19 3 years 23 weeks

People really need to get over it.

CarissaSophia 3 years 23 weeks

The difference between (most) any artists racy performance and Adam Lambert's performance is that Adam's performance looked violent.He grabbed their heads and shoved them to his crotch. He grabbed the keyboard player and forced himself on the guy. Most people as an everyday occurrence -DON'T WANT- to see someone aggressively taken advantage of.It just looked vulgar and violent. Without making light of molestation, his performance was comparable.For Your Entertainment? I don't think so.

CarissaSophia 3 years 23 weeks

The difference between (most) any artists racy performance and Adam Lambert's performance is that Adam's performance looked violent. He grabbed their heads and shoved them to his crotch. He grabbed the keyboard player and forced himself on the guy. Most people as an everyday occurrence -DON'T WANT- to see someone aggressively taken advantage of. It just looked vulgar and violent. Without making light of molestation, his performance was comparable. For Your Entertainment? I don't think so.

dani19 3 years 23 weeks

i dont really have an opinion on either or but i can understand where abc is coming from. im sure they have loads of complaints about the performance from viewers and the fcc; and having him back on will not do well for them even if they have no problem with it. i read somewhere that lambert even mentioned not blame abc because it really is the fcc's fault for being so old school. so if y'all want to blame someone blame them. abc is just a pawn of theirs that they have to obey. im sure lambert will get gigs somewhere else like on cbs (which he did).

dani19 3 years 23 weeks

macneil 3 years 23 weeks

I objected to the way the answers were phrased - why should he be given 'another chance' when he's done nothing wrong? And I object to the fact that even the pro-Adam comments are asking us to compare to a female-female couple. We should be comparing the outrage to a male-female couple kissing on television. Is there any chance there would be any objection, that anyone would notice, that it wouldn't be seen as romantic or normal? Same sex couples should be treated the same as heterosexual couples. Period.

buckley9383 3 years 23 weeks

This is so ridiculous. Britney, Christina, Lady Ga Ga and tons of other performers have done similar if not more controversial things on stage. It's because he's a gay man- terrible double standard. the network needs to get over themselves. PEOPLE ARE GAY, now move on.

3 years 23 weeks

ABC is certainly overreacting. Aren't we over this already? Geez, give the guy a break.

Allyace 3 years 23 weeks

I just want to remind everyone that Jimmy Kimmel's last gig was The Man Show. Where every show started with women jumping on trampolines... Pretty sure he shouldn't be insulted by Adam. That said, I still think people should be more angry by how horrible his singing was instead of what happened during the performance.

Zivanod 3 years 23 weeks

What he did was no more over the top then any other performer there. It's just because he actually is gay. The censorship and the banning of performances infuriates me.

Zivanod 3 years 23 weeks

What he did was no more over the top then any other performer there. It's just because he actually is gay. The censorship and the banning of performances infuriates me.

Pop Champagne 3 years 23 weeks

Granted there might be some double standard here. But if he hasn't complain about the edit of his performance and talked about it so much (to get publicity perhaps?) maybe ABC would have let him on still. It's his big mouth's fault.

Drewsfan 3 years 23 weeks

I've always thought ABC's reaction as well as most of the networks covering the story is a double standard. I have a feeling that if it were a more influential male like Elton John, Steven Tyler, or Mick Jagger that we wouldn't even be having this conversation. We already know that when females behave this way that there isn't the same backlash. I'm sure the day will come when he's a big enough star that ABC will be clammoring for him to come on their shows, I just hope that he'll remember how he was treated and turn them down.

LaurenG22 3 years 23 weeks

Rod Stewart said it best, "That's Rock and Roll, Man!"

Miss Tina 3 years 23 weeks

I am kind of torn by this because I always expect all networks to act like this. I always think that they are pretty dramatic in their reactions. However, I also think that part of it could be Lambert's response to it all. I do not follow this or read everything his says or watch his interviews, but I also have only heard things from him saying that this is the way he chooses to perform, and that is not for everyone. If he is willingly saying okay I will tone it down while on your network then yes it is over kill, but if he is saying accept me as I am or don't have me then I guess they have made it clear what their choice is. It is just too bad that his career is starting out in such a negative way. He is talented.

Roarman 3 years 23 weeks

It's clearly homophobic and completely hypocritical as pointed out by EKB.

EkaterinaBallerina 3 years 23 weeks

Someone dug up an old video of Pink getting rubbed in the crotch by a guy during a performance at Billboard. There was no backlash then. Why the double standard? The reactions to this are out-of-control over the top. Miley Cyrus gropes stripper poles and she's underage and these channels are still willing to have her on. It's ridiculous.

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