After his provocative, envelope pushing performance at the American Music Awards, American Idol alum Adam Lambert was dismissed from his scheduled performances on “Good Morning America,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” Furthermore, ABC is now changing its protocol and requiring scheduled performers to sign agreements not to deviate from their rehearsal performances. There is talk of a double standard in the industry, where Madonna and Britney Spears’ kiss at the VMA awards were accepted but two males kissing is a large ordeal. I would argue that there is not a double standard, but it also comes down to who the performers are. A former American Idol contestant’s first televised performance after Idol being a completely different persona will cause controversy. Despite the current uproar, I think Lambert’s career will be fine in the future because his loyal fans will overlook this performance in continue to support him.
I do not think there is a double standard between homosexual males and females. For the radicals that are writing into ABC right now, homosexuality is a sin no matter who performs the act. I think the issue comes down to venue and entertainer. The Madonna and Britney kiss was broadcast on a cable network which has more flexibility than the broadcast networks. The entertainers were also drastically different. Madonna’s first performance at the VMA’s showed her humping the stage as she sang the words “Like a virgin, touched for the very first time.” Britney’s past VMA performance showed her in flesh colored pants and bra covered in rhinestones in the appearance of a thong. Both performers are provocative and their kiss was a surprise but in no way out of character. As for Lambert, I did not watch him on Idol and do not know much about his prior performances. I do know that Idol is a family show. Many children and teenagers watch the show and create the fan base afterwards. For Lambert to simulate oral sex and kiss another man, he betrayed his younger fans. He has to remember his rise to fame was on the basis of family and personality, not on being provocative like Madonna and Britney.
In the future I think this will not affect Lambert’s career because when it comes down to it, any press is good press. Most people who do not watch American Idol do not know who he is. Now he is making controversy in the major news networks so his name and image is being projected. Also I think being cancelled by the various shows will be a lesson for Lambert. He will learn to express his creativity in a more publically accepted way. Instead of being sexual on stage he will have to create more symbolic performances that will not offend people but impress them instead. Finally I think it will make him work even harder. Sometimes entertainers need a setback to inspire them to create and be more unique in the future. This can serve as an inspiration for the point he does not want to be and how he must persist in the future.
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