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Lambert Too Shocking for ’GMA’-But Not Rihanna-Beating Chris Brownby Kilian MelloyFriday Nov 27, 2009 Although ABC’s morning talk show Good Morning America scrubbed Adam Lambert’s scheduled appearance following Lambert’s racy American Music Awards performance on Nov. 22, the show has booked performer Chris Brown--despite Brown’s felony conviction in connection with assault on his girlfriend, the pop star Rihanna.
Media watchers wonder if a double standard is at work. Lambert himself said on CBS’ The Early Show (which snapped him up after he was dropped by GMA) that a double standard let to his GMA appearance being canceled, noting that while his antics--including kissing a male musician--drew the ire of some viewers, Janet Jackson’s fondling the crotch of a male dancer did not elicit the same sort of outrage.
Lambert also referenced same-sex kisses between Madonna and other female stars such as Britney Spears on past broadcasts of the American Music Awards.
ABC spokespeople say that Lambert’s sexuality is not at issue. Rather, as one source, cited by Celebrity Mound, said, "He was not canceled over a gay kiss. He showed himself to be unpredictable on live TV."
But another ABC source noted that the booking sent "a mixed message--that it doesn’t trust someone who shocked with an unpredictable show and a gay kiss, but then it is happy to go ahead with Chris Brown, who was convicted of felony assault." However, the source also acknowledged that the Brown appearance was a counterbalance to an earlier interview on GMA with Rihanna, who said on the broadcast that when Brown assaulted her, she saw "no soul in his eyes." Said the source, "It is to give him a chance to respond to Rihanna’s interview. The possibility of him performing a song will be worked out next week."
Last August, Brown was sentenced to five years’ probation and nearly 1,500 hours of community service following his conviction for assaulting Rihanna. Brown was also ordered to attend domestic violence counseling and to stay away from Rihanna. An Aug. 26 CNN article reported that the February incident that led to Brown’s arrest and conviction had only been the latest in a string of abusive episodes.
Kilian Melloy reviews media, conducts interviews, and writes commentary for EDGEBoston, where he also serves as Assistant Arts Editor.
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