Prince’s 2007 Super Bowl halftime show is spoken about in glowing terms and why wouldn’t it be? It was a performance that transcended being good for just a halftime show, but ranks as a full-on classic television moment. According to TMZ, the Minnesotan musical genius is probably going to be making an unlikely appearance at this year’s edition of the NFL’s big finale.
TMZ’s sources claim that on top of the pyro and choreography one gets with a Justin Timberlake halftime show, JT’s including a Prince hologram as a nod to the American icon in his hometown. The same sources claim there’s no plans for another VMAs style *NSYNC cameo or the potential Janet Jackson return a lot of folks were rooting for. It’s anyone’s guess what the hologram would do in this performance, but odds are it’s not doing guitar while JT does the McDonalds “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle from years gone by.
People generally like holograms (including those accompanied by Jem), but the rumblings of Prince returning in this format has not exactly been universally praised. Once the report tumbled out so did the responses on Twitter.
Since Prince died his estate has:
Turned his house into a museum
Put his music on Spotify
Planned to release music he chose to keep in the vault
Turned him into a hologram
Replaced the Geico lizard w/ a cartoon called Lil Prince
Overdubbed Borat's "My wife!" on every Prince song— Steven Hyden (@Steven_Hyden) February 3, 2018
I mean, instead of a Prince hologram just replay Prince’s ICONIC halftime show when he performed Purple Rain, IN THE RAIN & ripped off his durag. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/Tfsz1MkMR1
— Reagan Gomez (@ReaganGomez) February 3, 2018
Listen, Timberlake doing a posthumous duet with Michael Jackson is fully in keeping with MJ’s career and ethos. Prince specifically said he did not want to ever be a hologram. And he was skeptical about JT’s claims of “bringing sexy back” anyway. https://t.co/RhXRQcLgBr
— anildash.com (@anildash) February 3, 2018
Unsatisfied with merely throwing a Black woman under the bus, Justin Timberlake commissions hologram of Prince to see if he can do it to a virtual Black man.
— Stephen (@nipsey) February 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/zaheerali/status/959814749310644225
I’m hearing that Justin Timberlake is gonna be performing with a Prince hologram at the Super Bowl halftime. Lord, I know I don’t often pray, but please stop this. Electrical failure, stage malfunction, anything! Already disrespected Paisley Park! Gosh! pic.twitter.com/SF41KQhZq0
— Rhonda (@Jumpercrest) February 3, 2018
I hope this Prince hologram is as horrifying as the MJ hologram so I can call the fcc and complain.
— Crystal (@Crys2101) February 3, 2018
Me to the @jtimberlake songs on my playlist if he oversteps by using a Prince hologram during the Halftime show. #Slowyourroll StayInYourLane #Respect pic.twitter.com/DIRd3gkr3E
— Kwana aka K.M. Jackson (@KwanaWrites) February 3, 2018
Justin Timberlake pulling out a Prince hologram at the end of a terrible press cycle is the most advanced Aristocrats joke I've ever seen
— Jeremy Gordon (@jeremypgordon) February 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/daniecal/status/959829987141365761
The hologram Prince hasn’t been advertised or confirmed yet, so this might just all be academic. Still, this is probably not the response Timberlake (who brings all kinds of baggage with him) would want with an attempt to please the host city.
