More Adam Lambert Fallout
By DAVE ITZKOFF
Matt Sayles/Associated Press Adam Lambert performing at the American Music Awards on Sunday.When CBS had Adam Lambert as a guest on its "Early Show" Wednesday morning, it may have believed it would placate viewers who were upset when Mr. Lambert had his invitation withdrawn by ABC's "Good Morning America." Instead, the booking has led to further complaints from those who say Mr. Lambert has been subjected to a double standard.
At issue is a video package that CBS used to introduce its interview with Mr. Lambert, the "American Idol" finalist who gave a sexually charged performance at the American Music Awards on Sunday. When CBS rebroadcast a clip from that show, it blurred a scene of Mr. Lambert kissing his male keyboardist. But it did not blur a scene of Madonna and Britney Spears kissing at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.
In a statement, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said that CBS had been unfair in its treatment of gay performers. "I would have hoped CBS would provide the same treatment for images of gay and lesbian people and not create an unfair double standard that treats our community differently," said the alliance's president, Jarrett Barrios. "CBS regularly shows kisses throughout" its daytime programming. "The kiss was not blurred on ABC nor in news coverage on other networks."
Jeremy Kinser, the arts and entertainment editor at The Advocate, told the entertainment program Extra that CBS's action "makes them look kind of silly." "That's what's so ironic," Mr. Kinser told Extra. "They decided to put him on after 'Good Morning America' canceled him, and they seem really hypocritical to blur the moment that has everybody talking."
A representative for CBS told "Extra" that the image of Madonna kissing Ms. Spears "is very familiar and has appeared countless times including many times on morning television," adding: "The Adam Lambert image is a subject of great current controversy, has not been nearly as widely disseminated, and for all we know, may still lead to legal consequences."
Other gay advocacy groups have complained that "Good Morning America," which canceled Mr. Lambert's planned performance on that show, still plans to air an interview with the R&B singer Chris Brown, who in June pleaded guilty to assaulting the singer Rihanna.
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Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
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Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
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