In the third statement released in two days about the ABC v. Adam Lambert controversy, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) on Friday explicitly criticized the network for using a “double standard” against the “American Idol” runner-up and called on the community to protest ABC, reports the Los Angeles Times.
GLAAD’s previous two statements regarding ABC’s cancellations of Lambert’s performances on the network after his sexually charged American Music Awards appearance have drawn criticism and caused confusion.
In the first statement, GLAAD seemed to give ABC a free pass: “It would appear that the kiss between Adam Lambert and his keyboardist did not factor into ABC’s decision.”
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In the second statement, GLADD said “ABC confirmed this is not about a same-sex kiss or his sexual orientation but about being ‘caught off guard.’ GLAAD asked ABC and calls on them for clarification on ‘caught off guard’ so that the community knows why Lambert is being denied the opportunity to perform on the network.”
On Friday afternoon, GLAAD issued its strongest statement yet, saying that the organization does, in fact, believe that ABC canceled Lambert’s appearances on “Good Morning America” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and stopped considering him for “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” because he is an “openly gay performer.”
