2009 American Music Awards - Show (Photo : Getty Images)
Because of his provocative stage performances, a number of Singaporeans do not want singer-songwriter Adam Lambert to be a part of the country's New Year countdown party.
Two days after it was launched on Thursday, an online petition to exclude Lambert from Celebrate 2016, the countdown show at The Float@Marina Bay, has so far collected over 7,400 signatures, reports Todayonline. The other performers at the show include Singaporean acts THELIONCITYBOY, Nat Ho and Fauzie Laily. However, another report by Reuters doubles the signatures to more than 14,000.
Lambert held a concert in 2013 at the Star Theatre. The petitioners point to his controversial performance at the American Music Awards in 2009 as their basis in organizing the petition which reads: "Adam Lambert is hardly the kind of performer to send off our historic Jubilee Year or to usher in the New Year." In the performance, the "American Idol" first runner-up kissed the male keyboard player and had simulated sexual acts with male and female dancers.
The petition scores his alleged "flagrant disregard" for this audience's sensitivities, even if there are minors watching him. The petition was addressed to various parties such as the Singaporean government; Culture, Community and Youth Minister Grace Fu, MediaCorp and Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay.
The petitioners insist that Singaporeans can enjoy a good show without having to watch lewd acts in the name of entertainment. They also cited his being gay, active promotion "of a highly sexualised lifestyle" and LGBT rights as going against mainstream values of the city-state.
In defense of Lambert, two counter petitions were launched to keep him in the countdown. Reuters reports that the two petitions, which say that Singaporeans are against discrimination and promote diversity, have accumulated more than 11,000 names.
