In what should have been a straightforward celebration of a queer trailblazer, MTV has managed to trip over its own shoelaces. The plan: a grand tribute to the one and only George Michael at this Sunday's VMAs. The reality: a line-up of performers that completely sidesteps one of the most crucial parts of his identity. It begs the question: how, in this day and age, do you plan a tribute to a gay icon without a single out queer artist on the bill?
The artists tasked with channelling the spirit of 'Freedom! '90' are RAYE, Sombr, and Teddy Swims. While talented in their own right, their selection has left many fans—and us—scratching our heads. The online reaction was swift and predictable. "Hire queer musicians to honour a queer legend," one comment on Instagram read, summing up the mood perfectly. Another just asked: "No queer artists… really?"
It’s not as if the VMAs were short on options. The list of out, proud, and wildly successful artists who owe a debt to Michael's legacy is long. Fans immediately suggested names that seem like obvious, perfect fits:
- Sam Smith
- Adam Lambert
- Troye Sivan
The talent is there, waiting for the call. So why wasn't it made?
Why This Is More Than Just a Casting Choice
This isn't about gatekeeping an icon. It’s about understanding. George Michael’s queerness wasn’t a footnote to his career; it was a defiant, central theme, especially after he was so cruelly outed by the press in the late 90s. His response wasn't to hide, but to release "Outside," a glorious, disco-infused celebration of public sex, complete with a music video full of dancing cops that mocked his own arrest. To ignore that context, to treat his music as if it exists in a vacuum separate from his life as a gay man, is to fundamentally misunderstand his art and his impact.
A performance by an out queer artist would carry an implicit understanding of that struggle and triumph. It would be a tribute not just to the notes he sang, but to the life he lived and the barriers he broke. It's a layer of authenticity that simply cannot be replicated.
A Monumental Missed Opportunity
So what happened here? Is this a case of corporate box-ticking, where 'relevant artists' were chosen from a spreadsheet without any thought for cultural context? Or is it a more cynical attempt to make a queer icon palatable to a broader, straighter audience by filtering his legacy through non-queer performers? Whatever the reason, it feels like a monumental missed opportunity.
The tribute is timed to mark nearly 10 years since Michael's death and the 40th anniversary of his debut solo album, Faith. The VMAs had a chance to create a powerful moment of queer celebration and visibility on one of music's biggest nights. Instead, they opted for something that feels safe, sterile, and ultimately, a little hollow.
George Michael gave us faith, freedom, and the courage to be ourselves, outside and proud. The least a tribute to him could do is reflect the community he was an integral part of. We'll be watching on Sunday, but with a sense of what could have been—a tribute that was not just musically accurate, but spiritually authentic.
