• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • FOX 40
    • Meet Our Team
      • Our Journalists
      • Sales & Programming
    • Red Cross Support
  • Keeping It Real
  • Contest
    • Saints Ticket Giveaway
    • Ultimate Holiday Gift Giveaway
  • Programming
    • FOX 40 TV Guide
    • WHAT’S ON FOX
    • WATCH STREAMING NEWS NOW
    • CHURCH PROGRAMMING AND DIRECTORY
  • About WDBD
    • Contact Us
    • Job Listings
  • Advertise With Us
  • MS Help Wanted
WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports

WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports

WDBD Television for Jackson, MS

  • Local News
    • National
    • Weather
  • Sports
  • Bike Drive
  • Puppy Picks
  • FOX40 Foodies
  • Closing the Gap
  • Student Athlete
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Heart Month
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?

John Legend defends his rendition of ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’: ‘It wasn’t supposed to be preachy at all’

John Legend is defending his “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” remake with Kelly Clarkson after the new rendition of the classic Christmas record was met with intense backlash.

Legend, 40, doubled down on defending the latest iteration of the Frank Loesser song, which was co-written by Legend and “Insecure” writer and actress Natasha Rothwell. Legend performed the tune as a duet with Clarkson.

“The song was supposed to be silly!” Legend maintained in an interview with the UK’s Observer. “It wasn’t supposed to be preachy at all. I never disparaged the old version. And, by the way, the original writer, or his family, gets paid for my version, too.”

DEAN MARTIN’S DAUGHTER, DEANA, CRITICIZES JOHN LEGEND FOR ‘BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE’ REMAKE: ‘ABSOLUTELY ABSURD’

The EGOT-winner rewrote specific lyrics to the 1944 song after some deemed the lines to be predatory in today’s #MeToo climate.

However, the new rendition of the holiday favorite, which has been sung by the likes of Dean Martin and Ella Fitzgerald, has since been slammed by Martin’s daughter, Deanna Martin, as “absolutely absurd” based on the rewritten verbiage in which the male protagonist offers to call his female date an Uber when she insists she must go home.

In discussing the thought process of rewriting such a historical piece of Christmas music, the “Voice” coach said he knew it would draw mixed reactions.

JOHN LEGEND, KELLY CLARKSON SLAMMED FOR PERFORMANCE OF NEW ‘BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE’ VERSION

“It would be fun, and it would be newsworthy,” he said of updating the song for his new Christmas album. “And yeah, yeah – it was both.”

Of the criticism the song has received, the 2019 Sexiest Man Alive called the backlash “interesting.”

Recording artist John Legend (L) and host Kelly Clarkson speak onstage during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Recording artist John Legend (L) and host Kelly Clarkson speak onstage during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

“People thinking we’ve gone too far speaking up for a woman’s right to not get raped or sexually harassed, when some would argue we’ve not gone far enough, when we have an admitted sexual assailant in the highest office in the land,” Legend explained.

“People think that because some people have lost their jobs, or have been expelled from Hollywood, like [Harvey] Weinstein, that we’ve gone too far. I don’t agree. But people wanted the ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ war to be a proxy war for all that.”

JOHN LEGEND, KELLY CLARKSON’S ‘BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE’ VERSION IS ‘RIDICULOUS,’ SHARON OSBOURNE SAYS

The 10-time Grammy-winner also fired back at criticism he’s too liberal, adding he doesn’t “know what virtue-signaling is supposed to be.”

“I get that people don’t like people who are overly preachy or overly moralizing,” said Legend. “But, in my humble opinion, if you care about people who are often undervalued and overlooked in society, what’s so negative about that?

“There seem to be some who think that standing up for immigrants whose kids are getting locked up in cages is … some might call that virtue-signaling and some might think speaking up against it is absolutely right.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The father of two also defended the song in an interview with Yahoo! last week, telling the outlet, “They saw one line where she’s talking about having a drink, and I’m like, ‘It’s your body, it’s your choice.’ And I think they wanted it to be part of the political kind of culture wars. If you listen to the song, it’s really just a funny update.”

Primary Sidebar


  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Follow Us On Facebook


Trending Now

jets’-robert-saleh-squashes-report-saying-zach-wilson-is-‘reluctant’-to-take-over-starting-role-again

Jets’ Robert Saleh squashes report saying Zach Wilson is ‘reluctant’ to take over starting role again

jets’-jermaine-johnson-on-florida-state-missing-out-on-college-football-playoff:-‘it’s-bad-for-the-sport’

Jets’ Jermaine Johnson on Florida State missing out on College Football Playoff: ‘It’s bad for the sport’

sheryl-sandberg-demands-condemnation-of-sexual-violence-against-jewish-women-by-hamas

Sheryl Sandberg demands condemnation of sexual violence against Jewish women by Hamas

december-deadlines:-things-are-a-little-different-around-capitol-hill-before-the-christmas-cutoff

December deadlines: Things are a little different around Capitol Hill before the Christmas cutoff

ringo-starr-on-the-beatles’-rapid-rise-to-fame:-‘we-all-went-mad-at-different-times’

Ringo Starr on The Beatles’ rapid rise to fame: ‘We all went mad at different times’


LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES

Open carry restrictions, red light cameras top JPD chief’s legislative wish list

Judge gives Briarwood One owner 30 days to demolish eyesore, finds other defendants in contempt for inaction

3 On Your Side Investigates: Jackson’s Hidden Homicides

Lawrence County school cancels class due to plumbing issues, repairs

Hinds Co. lifts burn ban, effective December 4

More Local News

NATIONAL HEADLINES

laura-ingraham:-bureaucracy-is-just-another-branch-of-the-democratic-party

LAURA INGRAHAM: Bureaucracy is just another branch of the Democratic Party

FOX News host Laura Ingraham says Biden supporters want a system where bureaucracy hires and promotes from within on "The Ingraham Angle." LAURA INGRAHAM: Biden's supporters want to make sure that those bureaucrats are not chosen by the president or any … Read Full Report about LAURA INGRAHAM: Bureaucracy is just another branch of the Democratic Party

deion-sanders,-who-starred-at-florida-state-in-college,-won’t-fret-about-cfp-snub:-‘i-can’t-be-upset’

Deion Sanders, who starred at Florida State in college, won’t fret about CFP snub: ‘I can’t be upset’

Deion Sanders isn’t among the ex-Florida State players who are angered by the College Football Playoff selection committee’s decision to leave the Seminoles out of the top four despite an unbeaten record this season. Outrage is just one of the words to … Read Full Report about Deion Sanders, who starred at Florida State in college, won’t fret about CFP snub: ‘I can’t be upset’

ree-drummond’s-buffalo-chicken-meatballs-and-peppery-ranch-dressing

Ree Drummond’s Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and Peppery Ranch Dressing

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs30 minutesMakes about 32 meatballs1 pound ground chicken1 garlic clove, minced2 tablespoons finely diced celery1 green onion, sliced1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs1 large egg3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoonLouisiana-style hot sauce (such as Frank’s … Read Full Report about Ree Drummond’s Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and Peppery Ranch Dressing

climate-change-reporter-defends-world-leaders-flying-to-dubai:-‘can’t-do-a-zoom-call-with-190-countries’

Climate change reporter defends world leaders flying to Dubai: ‘Can’t do a Zoom call with 190 countries’

The senior climate reporter for Axios insisted on Sunday that world leaders must fly in rather than meet virtually in order to "move the needle" at the latest climate change summit.The United Nations' COP28 kicked off on Thursday with several prominent figures … Read Full Report about Climate change reporter defends world leaders flying to Dubai: ‘Can’t do a Zoom call with 190 countries’

christian-parents-complain-after-11-year-old-daughter-forced-to-share-bed-with-biological-male-on-school-trip

Christian parents complain after 11-year-old daughter forced to share bed with biological male on school trip

Read this article for free! Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account! Please enter a valid email address. Christian parents from Colorado have complained to their eleven-year-old daughter's school district … Read Full Report about Christian parents complain after 11-year-old daughter forced to share bed with biological male on school trip

Footer

Public File Info

Individuals with disabilities who have questions about the content of our public file or website may contact RaMona Alexander by phone at
601-948-3333 or by email at RaMona.Alexander@fox40tv.com

»WDBD FCC Public File
»EEO Report
»Closed Captioning
»Advertising Terms And Conditions

 

 

  • Local News
    • National
    • Weather
  • Sports
  • Bike Drive
  • Puppy Picks
  • FOX40 Foodies
  • Closing the Gap
  • Student Athlete
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Heart Month
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?

CATEGORIES

  • Local News
    • National
    • Weather
  • Sports
  • Bike Drive
  • Puppy Picks
  • FOX40 Foodies
  • Closing the Gap
  • Student Athlete
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Heart Month
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?
GRIT TV Logo
Antenna_TV_logo
GRIT-TV Logo
Antenna_TV_logo

Copyright © 2023 · American Spirit Media LLC · WDBD TV · Jackson MS · Terms of Service · Privacy Policy