Adam Lambert Controversy Discussed for Days: Was He Out of Line?

Adam Lambert Controversy May Be Taken Out of Proportion

Meg G.
The Adam Lambert controversy has gone on for nearly two days. The Adam Lambert controversy is a controversy covered by mainstream media outlets, bloggers, and rants of every day citizens. What no one can agree on is if Adam Lambert's AMA performance was an artistic expression that simply pushed the envelope or if the performance was inappropriate for the AMA show. Figuring out which side I am on wasn't very simple. I have poured over various articles, blog posts, and forums and have reached what I feel is the answer to the question: was Adam Lambert out of line?

I don't think that Adam Lambert was that far out of line. I can see how his act could make certain people uncomfortable. While the performance itself didn't bother me, while I was watching the Adam Lambert AMA performance and the Adam Lambert AMA video, my jaw dropped. I couldn't believe that he kissed a man on stage. I couldn't believe his backup dancers were wearing bondage gear. Although I thought I had inadvertently turned my TV to HBO after Dark, I didn't see anything that wasn't in a number of other network TV shows.

"But he KISSED A MAN!!" You say. Yes, I realize that the Adam Lambert controversy stems from a man-on-man smooch and also the artist smashing another man's head into his crotch - but the fact remains there was no nudity and no overtly vulgar language. Granted the actions themselves weren't something I would want my 13 year old child to watch, but the performance aired late at night and parents should expect musicians to act inappropriately at times. Remember the 2003 VMA lip-lock between Britney and Madonna? Remember Janet Jackson's Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction? Things like the Adam Lambert controversy happen. It's all part of the game.

The Adam Lambert controversy is the best thing to happen to Lambert's career. He lost "American Idol", yet the AMA performance did more to put his name out there than winning the contest ever could. The Adam Lambert controversy will be discussed for days - amplified by the fact that Lambert refuses to apologize for his actions.

While Adam Lambert's AMA performance definitely pushed the envelope, it wasn't any raunchier than other TV shows and other actions performed by artists. If the Adam Lambert controversy is really all that upsetting, networks should do the footwork and set guidelines that ensure that all performers abide by the same rules.

Sources:

CNN.com http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/23/american.music.awards/index.html

ABC American Music Awards Live

Published by Meg G.

Meg G. is a financial professional. During her previous life, she ran a contracting business with her husband. Now, she likes to share late breaking news, financial advice, and do-it-yourself tips with her d...   View profile

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  • MiMamaTaughtMeBetter-NOT 1/3/2010

    Greetings: Sharie here Adam. WHAT was that ? It looked as if you had just been released from a mental institution minutes before YOU TOOK THE STAGE, but not until after you had been given a dose of the worst "HIGH" medicine in the world before and to which your body and soul had an allergic reaction. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A RACE HORSE~~DRUGGED BEFORE A RACE ? You couldn't have been straight that AMA night to have let yourself fall completely to your DARK SIDE and make a complete FOOL OF YOURSELF ? I LOVE YOU AND ALL YOUR TALLENT, but all of this B.S. isn't the ADAM THAT I KNOW AND LOOOOVE~~THIS HAS TO BE AN INSDE JOB FROM YOUR HATERS. I JUST KNOW IT !
    This is from your absolute fan, Sharie~~BIG GUY~~ you might as well have said,

    " THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT !!!!"

  • Sharie K 1/3/2010

    Greetings & Salutations :
    Of COURSE, we are all disappointed to NOT BE ABLE TO SEE ADAM LAMBERT ON TV ON NEW'S YEAR'S EVE. BUT, I FEEL THAT ADAM DID NOT FEEL THAT HE WAS out of line for his INTERPRETATION OF "For Your Entertainment". HOWEVER, I DO FEEL THAT EVEN ADAM WOULD AGREE THAT HE MAY HAVE STEPPED OVER THE LINE ON THE AMA A BIT TOO EARLY IN HIS CAREER~~~AND SHOULD HAVE WAITED A BIT AFTER EVERYONE GOT USED TO HIS FAST-FORWARDING STYLE AND SOMEWHAT TEASING PRIMAL TINT IN ENTERTAINING ~~~BUT, EVERYONE MAKES A BLUNDER EVERY NOW AND THEN. HE HAS EXPLAINED HIS STANCE ON THE ISSUE, AND HE HAS PAID DEARLY FOR THIS UNTIMELY MIS-STEP - a"TOO HOT TOO TROT" HAPPENING. Whatever, it is old news by now, and SOMETIME we will see who ends up losing the most fans over this, Adam or ABC - I might say SOME on both sides, but ABC more. Adam says "one time only" does not make his entertainment NOT "For Your Entertainment" !!! He understands, NOW, THAT HIS PERFORMANCES SHOULD MIRROR THE REHURSALS.

  • beth 11/27/2009

    I would like to see the ney sayers to revisit the whole show. Underwood's singers were in underwear-barely. Other performers carried the S&M theme with not a blink. He watched it all and just took it up a notch like the network was promoting he would. Im just sad his vocals were poor as i wanted the world to love him for his VOICE. Im confident he'll pull through though.

  • Sue 11/26/2009

    What I have not seen mentioned is that ABC has a program called Brothers and Sisters that airs in the same time slot where Adam kissed the piano player. On that program, there is a gay, male, married couple that kisses on screen all the time. It is hypocritical to say that Adam's kiss was not appropriate for network tv in that time slot.

  • Heather 11/25/2009

    (message got cut off, so continues here...) pushes the envelope offends them. Did those who were offended ever consider changing the channel or turning off the TV? To view the entire performance & then claim to be offended is a bit hypocritical isn't it?? Adam is still honing his craft, has much talent and will show that his best is yet to come. You'll see.

  • Heather 11/25/2009

    I think the whole controversy is silliness. From the time rock music began, performing artists male, female, gay, straight, bi, have been pushing the limits. That's what Adam did on the AMA show and suddenly we're all surprised? I really don't see why anyone should be surprised about something that has been going on for decades with respect to rock music. Look at early film footage of Elvis. No one would broadcast him below the waist because it was deemed too controversial. As for Adam's sexual orientation, that really doesn't and shouldn't matter when he's performing. Adam Lambert has a lot of talent and is just beginning his journey as a solo performer. He needs to stay true to himself with no apologies. That would be like asking Elvis to apologize for moving his hips or asking Prince to apologize for the many 'controversial' things he has done while performing. I think there may be a lot of prudes who should stick to safe, predictable, boring music if edgy, rock music that

  • terie 11/25/2009

    ABC/GMA made a HUGE mistake cancelling ADAM's concert. CBS capitalized on it and came out the winner. Most of ADAM's fans have vowed allegiance to the Early Show on CBS and are no longer going to watch GMA and other programs offered for viewing on ABC. I have deleted that network from my TV ... it is PERMANENTLY OFF THE AIR and so are ALL of it's programs as far as I'm concerned!! ADAM's fans have his back and support him from all over the WORLD!!!

  • Jessica 11/25/2009

    I guess it's cute when children who mimic everything grow up and start mimicing tv and radio trash like the music artists around today. Have some self respect and care about the people you DON'T ever think about when you make a comment as ignorant as "nothing wrong with it."

  • Jessica 11/25/2009

    I have absolutely nothing against gay people. This was about showmanship. Of course he shouldnt' have to apologize for his being gay but as a stand-alone singer, he has no real talent. His music is EXTREMELY similar to female artists (Britney Spears was the FIRST person to come to mind 30 secs into watching him at the AMA's), his only talent being able to blare into a microphone with a high-pitched wail. The performance itself was garbage. The making out with the guy was random and only amped the "shock" factor of his show. Having another man's face grinding into his crotch was completely obscene and disgusting. The whole thing was like a soft core porn.

    You people should stop focusing on "protecting gay rights" and actually have an opinion about the kind of overly sexual b.s. that gets put all over the media. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. For both female and male artists. Effing unbelievable that some can just look at that and say "uh yeah, nothing wrong here." I guess it's cu

  • Lauren 11/25/2009

    This is ridiculous. That performance was so similar to things that Britney Spears has done in the past, but because he was a man it's too far? What a double standard! We need to stop with the homophobia and just get over it!

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