14 DAY TRIAL // The backlash against Adam Lambert for his live performance at the American Music Awards 2009, spearheaded by ABC, the network carrying the awards ceremony, continues. Following a cancelation on Good Morning America, the network has now decided to disinvite the singer from two other shows, Jimmy Kimmel and New Year’s Rocking Eve, The Hollywood Reporter informs.
“Boy, ABC can sure hold a grudge,” THR begins by saying, which is a very appropriate way of putting things into perspective, especially since now the network can’t even say that the cancelations were due to Lambert’s unreliability and spontaneity, as it argued with GMA. In fact, ABC doesn’t even say why it has called off the two performances for which Lambert had been booked before the controversial live show, which leaves the door open to speculation that it’s either because of a grudge for what he did at the AMAs or because of double standards and homophobia.
Amidst questions of just how many times exactly can a young singer be dumped by one network, Adam Lambert himself seems to be keeping his cool. In relation to the recent developments, he says on his Twitter page that there’s absolutely nothing that he could blame ABC for. “Yes, sadly friends, ABC has canceled my appearances on Kimmel and NYE. :( don’t blame them. It’s the FCC heat ... I AM doing Leno though. And lookin into something for NYE ... It’ll all blow over. Let’s focus on being positive! :)” Adam tweeted.
While the decision might not upset Lambert that much, fans are far from happy with it, especially because it’s just days since ABC was saying that it would impose stricter rules for artists performing live to prevent further incidents from happening. This, they believe, would mean that, if new regulations are in place, binding singers to stick to what they rehearse when they go live (which Adam failed to do, therefore the controversy), the network could contractually bind Lambert to play nice. With all this, it chooses to cancel his appearances altogether.
Add to that the fact that, while it called off Lambert’s GMA appearance, it went forward with a tell-all interview from Chris Brown (whom Lambert fans, and not only, call a “convicted felon”) on the same show, anyone can easily see why ABC isn’t exactly at the top of viewers’ preferences right now.