Fan Fare
Entertainment behind the scenes
Don’t mess with the Mouse, Adam
(Writing and reporting by Corinne Heller)
Appearances by glam rocker Adam Lambert on two additional shows broadcast on the ABC network have been canceled following complaints to the Disney-owned station.
ABC had also canceled an appearance by Lambert on its “Good Morning America” news program a day after he performed at the live American Music Awards November telecast on ABC in November, during which he kissed a male keyboardist and simulated oral sex and other racy acts.
The 27-year-old singer, who came out publicly as gay after finishing second this year on “American Idol” , wrote on his Twitter website on Wednesday: “Yes, sadly friends, ABC has canceled my appearances on Kimmel and NYE. I don’t blame them. It’s the FCC heat.”
“It’ll all blow over,” he wrote on his Twitter page. “Let’s focus on something positive!”
Lambert was to perform on ABC’s annual “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” special and on the late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” later this month. He has appeared on rival networks since his AMAs performance and has an appearance coming up later in December on “The Jay Leno Show”.
The Internet water cooler is still exploding over the matter. Many are disgusted; others are calling for freedom of expression. Gay rights supporters have cited a double standard, saying that similar heterosexual stunts were not criticized as badly.
Musicians often get raunchy on stage — a certain 2003 MTV Video Music Awards kissing frenzy between Madonna, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera comes to mind, not to mention the infamous “Nipplegate” incident involving Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake during the 2004 Super Bowl, which was issued an indecency fine.
But where do you draw the line between entertainment and distasteful? And does Lambert, who is tearing up the music charts, deserve to be shunned by ABC — or any other TV network?

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Lambert did things that female performers have been doing for years without incident. The problem is that he did it as a gay man and that has ABC out for blood. They’re looking more and more bigoted by the minute and at least for now, they’ve lost me as a viewer.
Lambert’s a great guy, he just made a mistake. He’s not a mean person at all and I hope it all works out for him.