Photography: Instagram / Christopher Polk
Justin Timberlake took the stage at the 2018 Super Bowl for the Pepsi Halftime Show, performing a medley of songs from his expansive music career, including “Filthy,” “Lovestoned,” and more. But when the singer used imagery of Prince during his set, many people weren’t happy with the so-called “tribute.”
About halfway through his performance, Justin sat down at a white piano to sing the hit song “I Would Die 4 U,” with an image of Prince projected on a large screen behind him. The rest of the stadium then began to glow purple, as did the surrounding areas in Minneapolis, a clear reference to Prince’s legacy and iconic “Purple Rain.” It was seemingly supposed to be a tribute to the artist, who passed away in April 2016, as well as his hometown of Minneapolis.
Justin Timberlake under fire after giving a tribute to Prince during the SuperBowl Halftime Show despite Prince’s public statements against Timberlake and Prince’s strong beliefs against technology like the one used to present Prince as a hologram. #Prince pic.twitter.com/z1tqRQHPiP
— Music News Facts (@musicnewsfact) February 5, 2018
Rumors began circulating before Sunday’s game that a hologram of Prince would be present during Justin’s performance. Early Sunday, other reports pointed otherwise, with Prince’s longtime family friend Sheila E stating that she spoke with Justin, who told her that such imagery would not be used. While a hologram of Prince didn’t happen, a projection sure did. And no matter how you look at the technicalities of it, Prince was used in some form or another — which didn’t sit well with many people.
Author Brit Bennett tweeted on Saturday, “Reanimating a dead black musician as a hologram, against his wishes, in order to make him perform for millions of white people is almost too obvious a metaphor for how this country consumes black art.”
New York Times Magazine editor Jessica Lustig pointed to a 1998 interview in which Prince said he wouldn’t want something of the sort happen to him after he passed. He reportedly said the prospect of digital duets with dead artists was “the most demonic thing imaginable” and “that’ll never happen to me.”
Following Justin’s performance, people online were quick to skewer the use of Prince’s likeness. One person succinctly tweeted, “I’m sorry but Prince would be livid.” Another wrote, “The Prince tribute would’ve been cool… except Prince specifically said he didn’t want that, right? Even in death, Prince continues to be misunderstood.”
Reanimating a dead black musician as a hologram, against his wishes, in order to make him perform for millions of white people is almost too obvious a metaphor for how this country consumes black art https://t.co/z3GkGH0GAO
— Brit Bennett (@britrbennett) February 3, 2018
Here’s the 1998 interview in which Prince said the prospect of digital duets with dead artists was “the most demonic thing imaginable” and “that’ll never happen to me” https://t.co/AidX9zH31G pic.twitter.com/cXUKSMwx7U
— Jessica Lustig (@jessicalustig) February 5, 2018
To be fair MLK’s ghost is probably happier he’s selling cars than performing with Justin Timberlake
— Ira Madison III (@ira) February 5, 2018
I hope Prince’s ghost personally haunts the fuck out of whoever’s decision it was to drag him into this
— erin ryan (@morninggloria) February 5, 2018
Only way the NFL could ensure no one took a knee or dressed as a black panther was to not let any black performers on stage except in memorium. #BlackLivesMatter #TakeTheKnee
— collier meyerson (@collier) February 5, 2018
The Prince tribute would’ve been cool… except Prince specifically said he didn’t want that, right? Even in death, Prince continues to be misunderstood.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) February 5, 2018
Prince up in heaven looking down on that performance like pic.twitter.com/FKCRvEg3Wd
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) February 5, 2018
Meanwhile Prince is in heaven like pic.twitter.com/lcsjAufAUF
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 5, 2018
While plenty of people were upset, others found the tribute touching. And another viewer simply thought that Prince gave a better performance than Justin did. Burn.
What a half time show! Justin Timberlake is a one of kind talent. That little piece with Prince was so cool for Minnesota! #HalftimeShow
— Sean Larkin (@Sean_C_Larkin) February 5, 2018
Some of y’all love too hate.. how is JT trash for honoring Prince? Lol
— ash (@ashleyvalle__) February 5, 2018
Justin already faced backlash before he even took the stage at the halftime show. The hashtag #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay began trending on Twitter earlier Sunday, a reference to the 2004 Half Time Show performance in which Justin removed part of Janet Jackson’s costume, exposing her nipple on live television. It led to an intense controversy where Janet was forced to deal with most of the consequences. Justin never formally apologized and was never overtly penalized for the act he committed.
Taken from Teen Vogue. Click here to read the original.
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