Adam Lambert’s AMA Performance: Read The FCC Complaints

Becky Bain | January 5, 2010 4:27 pm

We know, it seems like 2009 was ages ago—but the controversy over this Adam Lambert performance still stings like a smack on the butt. Was the public outcry about his American Music Awards stage show really serious enough for ABC to nix multiple Glambert appearances afterward? A website called Why Not Glambert? bothered to seek the actual complaints filed to the Federal Communications Commission in the wake of the AMA broadcast, and we think they’re worth a look.

All the writers’ names have been redacted, but their grammatical errors — and in many cases, fairly naked homophobia — remain intact. Even (or especially) if you agree with Adam’s contention that he has nothing to apologize for, you’ll want to read just how strongly America rejects “lewd bisexual” performances, and you should feel the pain of viewers who found themselves “truely disguisted” [sic, obviously].

One more time for those in the back row: all arguments about the hypocrisy here aside, the period from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. is considered a “safe harbor” for broadcasters, which means they can air pretty much whatever they like without fear of penalty from the FCC. Check out a sampling of the complaints here.