Laverne Cox was at the Grammy’s Sunday to introduce Lady Gaga’s performance with Metallica. You can see her intro here. She gave a shout out to transgender teen Gavin Grimm who has a lawsuit in front of the Supreme Court fighting for his right to use the bathroom which corresponds with his gender identity. This is a landmark case for transgender rights and you can learn more on this video from the ACLU and in this story from Washington Post. Thanks to Laverne, Gavin’s case is getting so much more attention and support. After mentioning Gavin, Laverne introduced Lady Gaga but forgot to include the fact that Gaga was performing with Metallica. She said “Eight time Grammy award winners and six time Grammy award winner Lady Gaga.” She meant to say “Metallica” and the intent was there but she just forgot. People dragged Laverne for it because of course they did.
Metallica thing is pissing me off. Laverne Cox doesn't intro, then mic doesn't work. That's a legendary band. No respect paid by Grammys.
— Jay Zawaski (@JayZawaski670) February 13, 2017
Hey @TheCrusher007, have a word with @Lavernecox about @Metallica. She should know who they are by now.
— MetalInsider.net (@metalinsider) February 13, 2017
Worst intro EVER @Lavernecox , you forgot to even SAY @Metallica cuz you were too caught up in your own crap.#GRAMMYS
— Roberta Rich (@Roberta_Rich) February 13, 2017
I would not want the job of performer or famous person. They’re human too and sometimes they forget things. It can’t be easy to stand on that stage and talk to that room full of music luminaries with people watching live at home. In response, Laverne has apologized for forgetting Metallica and she did it just the right way.
I am so sorry to #Metallica and all their fans. I am told I didn't say their names during the intro. Love you Metallica. You Rock. #Grammys
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) February 13, 2017
I like how she hinted that she didn’t remember whether she intro’d Metallica or not, which kind of captures the fact that it must have gone by in a blur. She apologized, she didn’t beat herself up over it and she moved on. Laverne did remember to tell us about Gavin Grimm and for that so many people are grateful. Also, you could make the argument that Metallica needs no introduction.
Here’s Laverne talking to City Magazine on the red carpet and she opens with “I’m introducing Lady Gaga and Metallica” so of course she knew, she just forgot to say their name. She also said that she was a Metallica fan growing up and loves metal.
Photos credit: FameFlynet. Thanks to US Weekly for the heads up
Surely it’s not that difficult to introduce the band? To me it seems a little vindictive. One would have to live in a cave not to know Metallica. No excuses.
She just missed a word out of her sentence! She clearly meant to introduce them.
*MASSIVEEYEROLLATYOU*
Oh please. People are still shitting on Travolta for his misreading of Idina Menzel’s name. If she’d left off any singer or group who is revered here, there would be blood.
I agree, it was only two acts, how can you forget one?
And I think people here would be less forgiving if she forgot some other artists.
That being said, the issue she presented is indeed important. And now, as it too often happens, is being glossed over (or even blamed for) her f up. Sad.
I think it was obviously an accident and no one should be raked over the coals for an accident but I also have no doubt that if it were Beyonce that someone forgot to mention the s**t would be hitting the fan.
If anyone should have been introduced, it would have been Metallica. It was their music. Lady Gaga was a guest singer
Seriously, you had one job to do Laverne! LOL
She does know Metallica, in teh red carpet interview she names their songs. If I stood in front of dozens of cameras and hundreds of people I might forget my own name.
It’s all good to advertise the cause you feel strongly about, but don’t forget to also do your job.
Succinctly put! +1
I wonder if people are more mad that she forgot to say the word “Metallica,” or that she used the space to bring attention to trans people? Although it seems like people are just genuinely mad about the Metallica thing.
She’s an amazing woman and activist, but honestly, when I saw her on Colbert last night she came across as a little bit obnoxiously into herself. At the same time, I had to remind myself that she’s mostly likely spent a lot of her life being sh!t on simply for being who she is, so she deserves to be a little full of herself.
….“Metallica,” or that she used the space to bring attention to trans people? I was wondering the same thing
Metallica is over-rated.
I wrote you in sharpie on my army green surplus bag and I regretted it almost immediately, Metallica.
Also, really? People forget. It’s not on purpose, and as if ‘respect’ is a word being thrown around. I didn’t lose respect for my keys because I forgot them this morning.
Metallica is now overrated. They used to be awesome but haven’t had any good music for a long,long time
Oooh, being upset for that. How metal.
Adrien, your comment is perfection!
Ha ha!! Perfect!!!
People do make mistakes, but this was not some long list of names on a teleprompter. As a professional actress, it’s really bad to mess up announcing one of the TWO acts on stage.
Yep! Only two.
Forgetting to introduce them was bad but not as bad as their major mic malfunction.
#frankoceanwarnedus
Yeah exactly @Kate. If James Hetfield didn’t also have a major mic fail this wouldn’t be such a big deal. The Grammys was a big clusterfuck for them and their fans so they’re pissed.
The grammys were an unprofessional shambles, technically. Everything seemed to go wrong. I feel sorry for the artists involved.
She seemed rushed and a little flustered. I think it was an honest mistake. It’s just that paired with the mic not working was an overall bad look.
No excuses for the mic not working either did the producers tweet an apology?
If this was a Jenner sister or a hadid who messed this up, we’d have the pitchforks out and that feels kind of unfair to me. Also, I love cox but that apology tweet is exactly the kind of thing I see other celebrities get dragged for on here! “I am told..” um you don’t have to be told- just watch the video of it yourself and say “I didn’t say their names, I’m sorry.”
Yes, it would’ve been a whole other conversation. I get that mistakes happen and I actually found her apology to be more offensive. When you f*ck up you have to own it.
“Hidden Fences” I remember MANY pitchforks out about that, and simple mistake was not accepted…
Yeah I think in general I’ve noticed that if you’re a minority, woman or both, much more of a free pass and leeway to your behavior/actions/words. I find it bothersome to say the least and I’m an Asian, woman of color immigrant to the U.S. kind of feel like the message is that you get more of a free pass in terms of behavior because of your minority/gender association.
I love Laverne but imagine if she had only mentioned Metallica and not lady Gaga. We would be rightly furious. She was bringing attention to an extremely important topic but she did so at the expense of her actual job. Her job was just to introduce Metallica and Gaga. Anything else was an added bonus. Now this important message is going to be lost in this rightful controversy. I hope that makes sense
Gaga was performing as a guest with Metallica, not the other way around. It was their song. They had a big-selling album in 2016.
So it was a big mistake that pissed off the fans because it feels like the Grammys always gives zero respect to hard rock/metal. The mic issue really was the huge mistake, though.
It clearly seemed like an honest mistake to me.
She looked amazing onstage. And good for her for her using the platform to share something important.
Imagine referring to civil rights issues as “crap” while being upset over a silly brain fart. Fix your priorities, Roberta Rich.
Even if it was a mistake it was a really bad one. I mean I’m not a metal fan but to completely not say their name is a bit yes disrespectful. Good on her for apologizing. Let’s hope she is gracious when someone forgets to intro her or some other accidental offense. Let’s see how she handles someone else’s human moment and my opinion of her can be cemented.
I love Metallica. The controversy doesn’t bother me. She apologized. I’m more upset that Metallica missed their opportunity to engage in public discourse by playing “King Nothing” which is so fitting for the current administration.
Well, James Hatfield is a Conservative. So don’t expect a political statement from them at the Grammys. Lars has said that’s not their thing. James has said they don’t do politics nor religion and have their own personal beliefs. Lars said he never discusses politics with James.
Lars is a Liberal. He said they’ve stayed together based on the music being the unifier. That U2, a band that Lars admires, grew up together, have the same shared experiences and viewpoints, so their political views align.. For Metallica, it is different. They didn’t grow up together and have different life experiences and beliefs.
Well, they have composed several songs that contain political undertones. Playing one of those songs without making a specific verbal statement is actually right up their alley.
I think it was just an honest mistake on her part. She was probably caught up in getting the stuff straight about the transgendered ten and then laid her eyes upon the goddess they call Beyoncé and she just lost her train of thought. I think if we can let John Travolta on stage again after jacking up Idina Menzel’s name, I think we can get over this. Move on people, nothing to see here.
It was a big mistake. Another was Metallica master of puppets being played while ex member Dave Mustaine went up to get Megadeths first Grammy ever
I know. That was unbelievable.
She had one job – to introduce Metallica and Lady Gaga.
Sure they’re human but FFS you only have to remember two names! One of which is an effin CULT band.
I’m sure if she were to introduce Queen and Taylor Swift she’d forget Queen probably.
Wtf what is the world coming to.
Let ‘ s hope there is never any need for any Pop princess and THE BAND QUEEN to be named in one sentence together.
Never mind that all these Pop princesses got their Grammys and QUEEN is far above the Grammy shit.
I find it absolutely stupefying that there are evidently so many people who still care about this pack of washed-up fat old men. They’ve been playing the same song for 40-odd years (seriously, every one of their songs sounds the same as the others) and there’s apparently a whole army of people who’ve never noticed. Remarkable.