Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl halftime performance was mostly pedestrian. He performed his hits with a multitude of dancers, singers, and a marching band. Good show, but nothing spectacular. Timberlake needed an awe-inspiring moment.
That moment could have come during a tribute to Prince. A large white sheet hung from the ceiling of U.S. Bank Stadium and an image of Prince was projected on the sheet. The city of Minneapolis also lit up with purple throughout the surrounding area near the stadium.
But as Timberlake performed a duet with Prince, the performance was awkward and viewed as disrespectful by many.
Prince and Timberlake were not friends or associates. Timberlake even dissed Prince on the 2007 song, “Give It to Me.”
“We missed you on the charts last week, Damn, that’s right you wasn’t there, Now if sexy never left, then why is everybody on my sh—? Don’t hate on me just because you didn’t come up with it,” Timberlake sang.
Timberlake was responding to Prince’s comment, who once said, “For whoever is claiming they are bringing sexy back, sexy never left!” Timberlake also joked about Prince’s height at the 2007 Golden Globe Awards.
It’s highly unlikely that Prince would have ever volunteered to share the same stage with Timberlake on any occasion. Timberlake would have been better served by leaving the stage and allowing Prince to be honored alone.
Is it just me or disrespecting #Prince‘s wishes and using his image anyway is DISRESPECTFUL #JustinTimberlake #Halftime #Superbowl
— Luisa Haynes (@wokeluisa) February 5, 2018
How Janet and Prince was watching the performance… #JustinTimberlake #PepsiHalftime #SuperBowlHalftime #Prince pic.twitter.com/LxibERXtB4
— Ashhhhhh (@AshleyCovergirl) February 5, 2018
Honoring Prince is a good thing. Disrespecting his wishes and using his image anyway is damned disrespectful. #JustinTimberlake #Prince
— IAMNALLELYLIGHT (@Nallely_Light) February 5, 2018
Justin’s “epic party” at Paisley Park. With alcohol knowing Prince banned parties and alcohol at his estate. The fact is people waited till Prince died to take advantage. He can’t have control in death.Even his family members he distanced himself from came in like wolves.#Prince
— wakandanexcellence (@Moco_latte2) February 5, 2018
That #PepsiHalftime show was trash & that was before the #Prince thing. Don’t even get me started on that. Beyond angry.
— Shadan Larki (@ShadanLarki) February 5, 2018
I now hope reincarnation exists, so #Prince and come back and kick some ass. His thoughts on this hologram business were clear. #ThievesInTheTemple #Superbowl #SuperBowlHalftime
— Danielle Boudreau (@ItsMeDanielleB) February 5, 2018
