For Your Entertainment

On Nov. 22, American Idol runner up Adam Lambert gave a performance at the American Music Awards that has caused quite a stir. While performing his debut single "For Your Entertainment," he simulated oral sex with one of his dancers and kissed one of his band members.

I did not see the performance live that Sunday night, but after it was all over the news, I was curious to see what the fuss was all about. So I went online to check it out. After seeing the performance, I was confused; I did not see what the big deal was. I immediately felt that a double standard was being placed on Lambert. I felt that the reason his performance was being criticized was because he is an openly gay male performer.

One of the first things that popped into my mind was the Madonna, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. I do not remember outrage caused by that performance. The outcry was minimal at best. What I heard were people saying that it was vintage Madonna. She has always done that throughout her career, including simulating sexual acts on stage, and it has been accepted by the public. I believe that some of society views two or three women kissing as acceptable and "hot" while, on the other hand, they view two men kissing as disgusting and unattractive.

One of the other outcries I've been hearing is that parents are upset because Lambert is from American Idol and their kids liked him and that he has therefore disappointed them. The thing is that he is no longer on American Idol and that show aired on a different time than the AMAs. While American Idol airs during the 8 to 10 p.m. time slot, Lambert's performance on the AMAs did not happen until the 11 to 11:30 p.m. time slot. What is a child doing up at that time anyway? Don't they have school the next morning? It is the parent's job to monitor what their kids watch. It's not like Lambert performed that song on Nickelodeon at 6 p.m.

Adam Lambert classifies himself as a "shock rocker." If his performance had not been shocking, then he would not have done his job. As Lambert's debut song title suggests, he is there "For Your Entertainment" and his performance was defiantly entertaining.