NBC Censored Demi Lovato’s Voting Message At The Billboard Music Awards
Much to Max Ehrich’s chagrin, Demi Lovato didn’t spend last night weeping alone on her bed after learning that he was papped out and about with a new lady. Demi had better things to do, like perform her latest song, “Commander in Chief” at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. As you may have already figured from the title, Demi gets political and sings about an unnamed Commander in Chief, who sounds like kind of an asshole (hmmm, whoever could that be?). But NBC didn’t feel like letting Demi get as political as she wanted, and they quickly cut away from a giant on-screen message encouraging viewers to vote.
According to TMZ, there were two versions of Demi’s performance last night. The one that Demi and her team planned, and the one that NBC aired. And basically, the only difference is that the NBC version most likely involved a producer in the booth yelling, “Cut to commercial! Fade in, dissolve, star wipe – whatever you got!” Demi’s performance was pretty low-key: just Demi sitting at a piano in a blue suit, and a few backup singers.
Commander In Chief — Demi Lovato at Billboard Music Awards #1 pic.twitter.com/gjtWkL2Z2I
— Portal Lovato Mídia (@MidiaLovato) October 15, 2020
There are clues about who she might be singing about in the lyrics, which are about as subtle as Demi’s use of blue eyeshadow.
We’re in a state of crisis, people are dying
While you line your pockets deep
Commander in Chief, how does it feel to still
Be able to breathe?
At the end of her performance, she sits silently as the camera closes in on her face, then transitions into a “COMING UP NEXT” teaser about a performance by BTS and the presentation of the award for Top Artist. The cameras didn’t let the viewer at home see, was two giant screens on stage lit up with the word “VOTE.”
Demi Lovato's 'Vote' Message Muzzled By NBC During Billboard Awards https://t.co/s8OQMplhBU
— TMZ (@TMZ) October 15, 2020
TMZ got their hands on what they claim is the actual recording of her performance, which is what Demi wanted people to see. For all Demi knew, NBC was broadcasting those giant screens urging everyone to vote on November 3rd. But that’s not what NBC did, you see? Which is just SO strange. I wonder why NBC didn’t want to encourage people at home to think about voting right after they heard Demi sing about an unnamed narcissist leader of a country where people are dying in record numbers? Is it for the reason you think it might have been? You’d be correct, allegedly. via TMZ:
Sources say the network pulled the plug on the “VOTE” message because the song itself was a slam on Trump and the “VOTE” message was a call to vote against him.
And NBC made the extremely questionable choice to host a town hall with Donald Trump, directly opposite of a scheduled town hall with Joe Biden over on ABC after Trump refused to do a virtual debate. Although NBC really tried to do some backpedaling on Twitter after the show ended:
.@ddlovato always delivers. #BBMAs pic.twitter.com/h2HiXp7fRK
— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) October 15, 2020
And After Demi’s performance, she received a few negative comments from people telling her that she was alienating her audience by getting political and picking a side. Demi hopped on Instagram and said that she doesn’t care if her song, “ruins her career” or loses her fans.
Demi Lovato addresses critics who say she should keep silent on politics:
“I literally don’t care if this ruins my career. This isn’t about that. I made a piece of art that stands for something I believe in. And I’m putting it out even at the risk of losing fans.” pic.twitter.com/gOsvahOj1O
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) October 14, 2020
Yes Demi, good for you. But come on – you have a song called “Really Don’t Care.” You could have just pointed the haters to a link to that song on YouTube or Spotify. Might as well get a couple of bucks as you slap back.
Pic: Twitter