Was Janelle Monae’s Black Lives Matter Speech Cut Off on ‘Today’? [VIDEO]
Twitter fingers were on fire after fans accused the Today show of cutting off Janelle Monae's protest speech during her performance on the morning program last week (Aug. 15). The surprising moment has brought Today some serious backlash.
"dang @TODAYshow, just couldn't let her finish, huh? love ya @JanelleMonae! #BlackLivesMatter," tweeted one supporter.
The singer, who released the protest anthem "Hell You Talmbout" with her Wondaland signees last week, finished her song "Tightrope" on the morning show before she kicked off the moving speech.
"God bless America. God bless all, all the lost lives to police brutality. We want white America to know that we stand tall today. We want black America to know that we stand tall today. We will not be silenced," said Monae. At that moment, the Today host began speaking over The Electric Lady creator's words and the camera panned to the crowd.
Monae was able to finish most of her speech and it isn't unusual for hosts to close out the program with a few final words as an artist is ending a performance. It's unclear whether this was intentional or not, but the apparent cut off has sparked talk on the visual silencing.
"So @TODAYshow cut out the last part of the speech of Janelle Monáe about black people standing up for themselves, what a surprise," a viewer tweeted.
"aye yo @JanelleMonae, @TODAYshow may not have wanted to hear you... but we do! Continue to speak truth & life," wrote another.
Watch the Today moment for yourself below and you be the judge.
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