Fans in tears over John Legend's George Floyd Father's Day tribute
John Legend was spreading some extra love on Father's Day Sunday night as ABC aired John Legend and Family: A Bigger Love Father's Day. The one-hour special brought viewers into the Legend household as the Grammy-winning singer performed songs from his new album, Bigger Love, which was released just two days prior. "With all that's going on in the world right now, we're all the more grateful for the opportunity to entertain the whole family and, hopefully, spread a little joy," stated Legend. The special featured Legend's wife, Chrissy Teigen, and their kids, Luna and Miles, as well as Legend's celebrity friends like Stevie Wonder, Anthony Anderson, Common, and Scottie Pippen among others. However, it was the images of George Floyd and his daughter Gianna, as well as Tracy and Trayvon Martin, that had viewers getting emotional, as Legend performed his new song "Never Break," while paying tribute to fathers everywhere. "Never Break" wasn't the only new song from Legend's album that is pertinent to the world's current issues. "'Bigger Love' is a song that I wrote last year before the pandemic and before the most recent demonstrations, but its message resonates all the more now. It's about hope, optimism and resilience. And a love that can help you through tough times," shared Legend as he closed out the show. "I'm glad we could celebrate dads today, but the kind of love we need right now goes beyond our fathers, beyond our immediate family and our close friends. It's about seeing the value and humanity in all of our brothers and sisters, whether they're next door or across the globe. That's the kind of love that's bigger than racism, or any other ism that divides us. The kind of love that believes that black lives do indeed matter. A love that will bring us closer to justice and peace. Love is a big, beautiful, unstoppable force. So no matter how you choose to be part of the change we want to see in the world, may our love for one another continue to fuel our actions in the months and years ahead," said Legend as he closed out the show with his album's title track. Overall, the special was praised on social media as the show seemed to be exactly what viewers were looking for as they wrapped up Father's Day.
Video Transcript
JOHN LEGEND: With all that's going on in the world right now, we're all the more grateful for the opportunity to entertain the whole family and hopefully spread a little joy.
- On "John Legend And Family: A Bigger Love Father's Day," which aired on ABC Sunday night, viewers were brought into the Legend household as the singer performed songs from his new album, which was released just two days prior.
[MUSIC - JOHN LEGEND, "I DO"] Oh, I wonder, will you? I do. I do. I do. I hope you do too. Ooh, I hope you do too.
- Legend's celebrity friends like Stevie Wonder, Anthony Anderson, Common, and Scottie Pippen, among others, also made cameos, but it was the images of George Floyd and his daughter, as well as Tracy and Trayvon Martin, that had viewers getting emotional as Legend performed his new song, "Never Break" while paying tribute to fathers everywhere.
[MUSIC - JOHN LEGEND, "NEVER BREAK"] We will never break. We will never break, built on a foundation stronger than the pain. We will never break.
- One viewer tweeted, "John Legend featuring George Floyd's daughter while singing 'We will never break,' I'm not crying. You're crying. Thank you for showing a daughter of one of Houston's own as part of your special," while another wrote, "OK, John Legend just got me good with 'Never Break' and George Floyd and his little daughter."
Overall, the entertaining one-hour special was praised on social media as the show seemed to be exactly what viewers were looking for as they wrapped up Father's Day.
JOHN LEGEND: It's about seeing the value and humanity in all of our brothers and sisters, whether they're next door or across the globe. That's the kind of love that's bigger than racism or any other -ism that divides us, the kind of love that believes that Black lives do indeed matter, a love that will bring us closer to justice and peace.
