Adam Lambert on Outrage: "I'm Not a Babysitter, I'm a Performer"
Adam Lambert
Following a racy performance on the American Music Awards, Adam Lambert says he got carried away, but he is not apologetic.
ABC cancels Adam Lambert's Good Morning America performance
"I'm not a babysitter, I'm a performer," Lambert said Wednesday on The Early Show. "Honestly, [children] didn't cross my mind. It was almost 11 o'clock, it was a night show, I was there with an audience full of mostly adults. Sometimes I forget, 'Oh, there's a camera on.' I'm come from the theater, and I'm programmed to look at who's in the live audience."
According to Lambert, there was a lot of "adult material on the AMAs this year" — including Lady Gaga smashing whiskey bottles and Janet Jackson grabbing a man's crotch — and it's up to "parents to discern what their child is watching."
ABC received more than 1,500 complaints following Lambert's S&M-themed performance at Sunday night's ceremony, during which he flipped off the audience, kissed a keyboardist and fondled several of his backup dancers. Lambert also pulled the head of one dancer into his crotch.
ABC receives complaints over Adam Lambert's AMA performance
The Idol finalist also feels that there is a double standard when it comes to male and female performers. "If it were a female pop performer that were doing the moves that were on the stage, I don't think there'd be nearly as much outrage at all," said Lambert.
"I think it's because I'm a gay male," said Lambert. "It's a double whammy."
Though the 27-year-old admitted he "did get carried away," he also said he was not trying to offend anyone in the process. "My intention was to interpret the lyrics of my song and have a good time up there."
So what would he do differently if given a do-over? "I would sing it a little bit better."
Watch the full interview:
Watch CBS News Videos Online
What do you think of Lambert's stance on parental discretion?