WATCH: Justin Timberlake’s Epic Halftime Performance Features Prince Via Projector
.@JTimberlake pays tribute to Prince during his #SuperBowl halftime show performance https://t.co/AnoevlnJIt #SB52 pic.twitter.com/goZZlcoJSp
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 5, 2018
Pop singer Justin Timberlake paid homage to the late Prince, as he performed the music legend’s “I Will Die 4 U” in the halftime show of Super Bowl LII.
As a tribute, Prince was projected onto a large screen while the “Mirrors” singer played a piano rendition of the track.
The performance was especially fitting given that Prince was born and lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is where this year’s Super Bowl was held. The area surrounding the football stadium was also lit-up with purple lights during the performance — another nod to the superstar who died last year at 57.
While some praised Timberlake’s show, there was controversy around using Prince’s likeness. Prior to the actual performance, there were reports that Timberlake would use a hologram of Prince — which drew criticism from fans and others. Additionally, some still felt that the Super Bowl halftime show wasn’t appropriate, as many took to Twitter to slam it or make other snarky comments:
Inadvertently and unwillingly saw the halftime show while eating at the bar.
I feel myself spiraling into a deep dark hole of rage and depression .— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) February 5, 2018
Taking a break from minding my business to make sure the timeline is dragging Justin Timberlake properly: pic.twitter.com/cukBnEbbXl
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) February 5, 2018
Justin Timberlake is a real artist — gifted, disciplined. But his fat ego gets in the way of his litheness, quickness, shrewdness. That was just so surprisingly eh.
— Peggy Noonan (@Peggynoonannyc) February 5, 2018
I feel like Justin Timberlake gets a lot of unfair criticism, but I admit that part in the halftime show where he screamed “the legioned dead are mine to command, I sit upon a throne of spent souls and gaze upon a kingdom of charnel” was a little much
— Sam Sykes (@SamSykesSwears) February 5, 2018
— Rahul Kothari (@rahulk013) February 5, 2018
Twitter after they remember that Justin is a ? performer and there’s nothing to reallyhate on cuz the Prince video appearance was tastefully done and HAD to be done in Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/j5LzfEOLMp
— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) February 5, 2018
Prince’s reaction in heaven at Timberlake using his concert footage #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/bT7aYkf7Vp
— jon moss fan account (@TeeHaitchGee) February 5, 2018
All the people not understanding the backlash behind the Prince thing blowing me. We *know* he was from Minnesota and loved sports. Who doesn’t? Lol this is about Prince not liking JT and not wanting no damn hologram of himself anywhere. Relax.
— Joan Clayton (@_wildwildWEST) February 5, 2018
The Prince tribute would’ve been cool… except Prince specifically said he didn’t want that, right? Even in death, Prince continues to be misunderstood.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) February 5, 2018
Here’s the 1998 interview in which Prince said the prospect of digital duets with dead artists was “the most demonic thing imaginable” and “that’ll never happen to me” https://t.co/AidX9zH31G pic.twitter.com/cXUKSMwx7U
— Jessica Lustig (@jessicalustig) February 5, 2018
*watching Justin Timberlake fire a t-shirt cannon full of doves at the crowd while “When Doves Cry” plays* this is what Prince would have wanted
— TWlTTER DOT COM SLASH PIXELATED BOAT (@pixelatedboat) February 5, 2018
Watch above, via NBC.
[images via screengrab]
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