Now let’s be clear, I don’t like football. Never have. I’ve become a fan of college football, due to HBCU football, but I’ve never liked the NFL. So, technically, I’ve been boycotting for years. Nevertheless, my family makes it a tradition to watch the Superbowl as a family gathering where we mainly get together, eat and rate the ridiculousness of most of the Superbowl commercials. As a rest from going hard at FVSU and with HBCU Pulse to start the new year, I decided to take a rest and watch the game with my family. Yet, we’re here.
Justin Timberlake performing at the Superbowl was an intriguing announcement. Clearly, no one has forgotten what happened back in 2004 when he sang that “he’s gonna have you naked by the end of this song” and proceeding to show the world Janet Jackson’s breast. The world was wondering if he was going to be bringing Janet Jackson out for this performance as an apology move. Well, he didn’t. His performance was rather tame this time around but the Twitter world still found a reason to get at him. This time, it’s for his Prince tribute.
Superbowl 52 is in the city of Minneapolis this year, the birthplace of music legend Prince. It was rumored that he might have a hologram of Prince pop up during his performance but he instead played the piano and sang Prince’s “I Will Die 4 U” as Prince was displayed on the screen above him. Seems like a harmless tribute to one of the most gifted musicians to ever live. Why is Twitter even upset? They have every right to be outraged this time around.
Let’s start with the fact that Justin Timberlake dissed Prince back in 2007 on the the Timberland song “Give It To Me” featuring Nelly Furtado. Prince at a Post Emmy-awards party poked fun at Timberlake’s 2006 chart-topping hit “SexyBack” where he allegedly said,
“For whoever is claiming they are bringing sexy back, sexy never left!”
Justin Timberlake responded back in “Give It To Me” saying,
“We missed you on the charts last week
Damn, that’s right you wasn’t there
Now if se-sexy never left, then why is everybody on my shi-i-it?
Don’t hate on me just because you didn’t come up with it”
That’s right, Justin Timberlake dissed a literal musical genius for “not being on the charts”. The man that’s ghostwritten tons of songs and created styles and trends that Justin himself follows religiously? Yeah, that’s disrespectful. To make things even worse, he mocked Prince at the 2007 Golden Globes!
All the backlash Justin Timberlake is receiving for his disingenuous #Prince tribute is warrented. Remember, he disrespected Prince MULTIPLE times! Let’s not forget this dig from the 2007 Golden Globes! #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/PqiO0IQw2a
— HBCU Pulse (@thehbcupulse) February 5, 2018
So yeah, Justin Timberlake deserves ALL the backlash that he’s getting! I don’t care if Prince’s family approves of the tribute, it doesn’t take back the disrespect he’d shown him! Back to the drawing board Justin!
