Britain's Got Talent 2013: Jennifer Lopez calls outfit 'tame' after backlash over risqué performance
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Your support makes all the difference.Jennifer Lopez has defended herself after a raunchy appearance on Britain’s Got Talent provoked a storm of disapproval from the British public.
Ofcom received more than 100 complaints in 24 hours about the 43-year-old singer’s performance of new single “Live It Up” on the pre-watershed TV show, during which she wore a black leather leotard, thigh-high boots and fishnet tights.
Lopez defended her outfit choice in an interview with Scott Mills on Radio 1. She said she felt “so tame”, adding: “I think people are so much raunchier than I am.”
The singer also pointed out that she wore exactly the same clothes and performed an identical dance routine on prime time American television recently, without provoking a negative response.
“No one complained at the Billboard Awards. I think people just like to talk. It was a body suit. A lot of performers wear that these days. I’m not going to walk down the street like that!” she said.
Lopez revealed that producers of Britain’s Got Talent had specifically asked for a risqué performance. “I wore [the same outfit] at Billboard and Britain’s Got Talent said they wanted exactly the same,” she said.
But the storm of complaints that followed Tuesday night’s ITV broadcast suggests her appearance was a misstep for the family-focused talent show.
“Ofcom can confirm that it has received complaints about Britain’s Got Talent broadcast on Tuesday, which we are assessing but not currently investigating,” the media watchdog said in a statement.
Many viewers expressed distaste on Twitter. Maeve Connolly tweeted: “Wow, J Lo, if I’d wanted to see that much of you I’d have married you #bgt,” while Sally Flint added: “I think Jennifer Lopez needs to be reminded that BGT is a family show.”
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Another Twitter user, Deborah French, wrote: “Disgusting that Jennifer Lopez showed off quite so much on a family show. Sad.”
There have been a number of controversies surrounding this year’s Britain’s Got Talent competition. Dozens of viewers complained to Ofcom when dancer Keri Graham appeared to perform a lap dance in skimpy clothing.
Lopez’s performance was praised by the judges, however, who gave her a standing ovation. Amanda Holden said: “J-Lo’s arse... I just wanted to bite it! It was fabulous.”
Simon Cowell later tweeted his support for the singer: “J Lo incredible on the show tonight. A total superstar.”
Eyebrows were also raised when Arisxandra Libantino, 11, who is now through to the final, gave a rendition of Jennifer Hudson’s “One Night Only” - a song about a one night stand - in early auditions, but Ofcom only received five official complaints.
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