Adam Lambert responds to petition to ban his Singapore NYE performance
American singer Adam Lambert has responded to a petition circulated last week to stop him from headlining Singapore’s New Year Countdown concert.
While now closed, the petition attracted in excess of 20,000 signatures, which called for the former American Idol contestant to be removed from the event due to his “active promotion of a highly sexualised lifestyle and LGBT rights, both of which are contrary to mainstream Singaporean values.
“This petition was meant to appeal to the better judgment of the Organisers to reconsider their choice of foreign performers in Countdown 2016, on the basis of inclusion of the young and the often cited silent majority in Singapore who continue to uphold values that appear contrary to the liberal west,” it read.
“It is never ‘just entertainment’, especially when the national stage is used. Unfortunately, our concerns to address the probability of lewd acts on a public platform have been downplayed and turned into yet another political LGBT rights issue.”
“We urge for the sensibilities of Singaporeans to prevail in our individual choice of entertainment and discernment of influences. We are thus closing this petition in good faith that our concerns have been heard and with the hope that the Authorities and Organisers will act for the public good and future of our nation.”
Posting on the Warner Music Singapore Facebook page, Lambert responded by saying his performance at Celebrate 2016 would “not only be a spectacular one, it will celebrate the entire human family in all its diversity”.
“I am a uniter, not a divider, and I believe in celebrating the human heart and spirit. I have put together an entirely new show experience for my fans that is kicking off in Singapore,” he wrote.
“The Original High tour is based primarily on new material, and it promises to be a thoughtful and sophisticated insight into the pursuit of happiness and self-worth.
“There is no better time for celebration than at the moment one year changes into another, so I hope you will join me to celebrate the future and 2016.”
The Ghost Town singer also tweeted to his 2.53 million followers he would be “Fighting Homophobia one song at a time”.
Fighting Homophobia one song at a time.
— ADAM LAMBERT (@adamlambert) November 27, 2015
Lambert’s response followed a counter petition, also now closed, which was created in his support and reached 24,272 signatories.
“The opposing petition struggled to reach 20,000 signatures and they were running for a much longer time period,” it read.
“The opposing petition have lost, Adam is still going to do the concert. The only thing the opposing side has accomplished is embarrassing themselves and the groups that promoted their petition.
“This is a clear message to those people that their homophobic and discriminatory ways are not welcome in Singapore.”