Adam Lambert not apologizing: ‘I’m not a babysitter, I’m a performer’
Everyone’s aflutter about Adam Lambert’s racy performance at the American Music Awards on Sunday – except Adam Lambert.
“I’m not a babysitter, I’m a performer,” Lambert tells Ryan Seacrest in an interview on the latter’s Web site, adding, “The spirit of rock and roll is alive and well.”
Not on ABC, which apparently didn’t approve of Lambert’s stage show in which he French-kissed a band member and simulated oral sex. The network has made it clear that Lambert won’t be performing on its morning program. It cancelled an appearance on Good Morning America slated for Wednesday after receiving over 1,500 complaints about the Sunday broadcast. The network says it doesn’t feel he’d be appropriate for a morning audience. After the GMA cancellation, CBS asked Lambert to perform on its Early Show on Wednesday instead.
“I think the adrenaline kind of took me over,” Lambert tells Seacrest. “I admit and I’m kind of proud of the fact that I did get a little carried away. I had a good time and I was merely interpreting the lyrics of my song. It wasn’t meant to piss anyone off, it wasn’t meant to hurt anyone or cause any problems.”
But the reaction, he says, is far out of proportion to the offense.
“I don’t feel like I owe anyone an apology,” he says. “I did something female performers have been doing for years. All of a sudden a guy does it, and it’s crazy. I do think there’s a slight double standard.”
His fans seem to agree. On Twitter, the topic #shameonYouABC has been a hot topic since the GMA cancellation was announced, with many fans accusing the network of homophobia and discrimination.
Though he doesn’t hold any grudges against the network, Lambert says that at least people have more realistic expectations since his days on a reality-show competition.
“I’m sexual person, and maybe people didn’t see that on American Idol,” he says. “But now … they do.”
He’s 27.
November 25th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Supposed lewdness aside, I have to say the entire performance sucked and he has no talent and that scream is annoying. I do think however, that he’s as cute as buttons and I’d love to get in those pants of his. Good for him that he’s sticking to his guns and I love that he threw his gayness in everyones face, but the performance utterly sucked big bulls’ ballzzzzz.
November 25th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I agree, Gay Bastich…Not a big fan of his music, but I love what he so brazenly stands for. And, to top it off, he’s got a hot ass!
November 25th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
I don’t like this guy
November 26th, 2009 at 1:05 am
His performance was too racy for his first out of AI gig! AMA is a pretty big deal for any new upcoming performer. Hes not Madonna or Michael Jackson..he should hold on racy stage performances until and if he can make a name for himself. However….Would so sit on his face…he does have a nice package!
November 26th, 2009 at 8:47 am
He gives himself too much credit.
November 26th, 2009 at 9:24 am
First of all ABC’s ppl are hypocrites.
I dunno of any multi-million $ shows that have not pre-approved any theatrically staged performances. They knew! Remember Janet’ s boob ‘incident’? Same thing, they knew & it bombed on them.
Second, i wish anything promoting ‘gay’ persona didn’t have to always go through ’shocking’ the general public. And shocking the American public is an easy thing to do!
I doubt that this caricature of gay representation helps most ppl approve of this lifestyle, nor sell records. He’s gonna get the press, but that will be it.
Lambert’s been playing the gay card for a while now, and he’s gonna be paying for that if he doesn’t slow down. It’s a bit too ‘in your face’ & frankly, his material is a bit weak. I’ve heard the album & it’s another badly mismatched product of the ‘Idol’ machine.
And has anyone counted the number of ‘Idol’ products on stage that night? I am scared for the music industry & Lambert is definitely NOT helping.
November 26th, 2009 at 9:32 am
This only happens in America — the so called land of the free. They get shocked when they see sex or man on man kiss. But it never bother them when they see extreme violence, gunshot, stabbing, slitting throats like gory scenes they watch on their number 1 show CSI or Criminal Minds. A bunch of hypocrites these retarded dumb Americans.
November 26th, 2009 at 10:36 am
LEO there is no reason to call a collective people stupid because they don’t think like you do. They have the right to think what they want. I agree that there is hypocrisy all around, but let’s not degenerate these boards into name calling again.
November 26th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I’m sure Leo just meant the hypocrites in America not all Americans. And I agree with his point. I also agree with What?. Mainstream TV has barely seen any gay kisses on TV (yes there have been a few) especially not the “in your face with an S&M theme” type. Leo is right extreme violence and gore is fine and dandy but don’t dare bring up any kind of extreme sexual theme to Americans because they will be offended. But that’s just how it is and Lambert is moving too fast and giving himself too much credit if he wants to make it big. With that 80’s album cover of his especially WOW. Adam, if this is what he wants to be, is not fit for mainstream consumption. Maybe he knows this and accepts it already. He’ll have a much smaller following but that’s ok if he’s ok with that but don’t expect mainstream America to accept this. I personally see nothing wrong with what he did but I’m not like mainstream Americans.