Jennifer Lopez called out for 'self-serving' US inauguration performance

Jennifer Lopez sings during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th US President on January 20, 2021, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Semansky / POOL / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK SEMANSKY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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By Gillian Wolski

Jennifer Lopez is being called out over what some on Twitter are calling a ‘self-serving’ moment in her performance at US president-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

The music icon belted out a medley of two quintessential American songs, This Land is Your Land and America the Beautiful, at the event in Washington, D.C, but managed to slip in a reference to one of her own tunes.

Toward the end of her rendition of This Land is Your Land, a famous folk song by Woody Guthrie, JLo recited the final words of the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish before switching to her 2000 hit, Let’s Get Loud.

Watch: JLo criticised for ‘self-serving’ inauguration performance

While the multi-Grammy award winner only interjected with those three words before returning to Guthrie’s lyrics, her ad-lib moment certainly stirred up controversy on social media.

Read more: Lady Gaga and Tom Hanks bring star power to Biden inauguration

Viewers watching the ceremony from home were divided in their opinion of the Latin superstar’s move, with some branding it ‘inappropriate’ and a clear plug for her ‘personal brand’.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Jennifer Lopez sings during the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC.  During today's inauguration ceremony Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
JLo belts out a medley of classic American songs - as well as reference to one of her own - while US president-elect Joe Biden looks on. Photo: Getty Images.

“Did JLo just throw a self-serving ‘let's get loud’ into Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land? Seriously???” wrote one Twitter user.

“So inappropriate!!” tweeted another.

“Did anyone else cringe when J.Lo said ‘let’s get loud’ towards the end of the song? Ma’am this is not the time to plug your personal brand,” added a third.

Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.

Others were thrilled with JLo’s decision to include a throwback to her music back catalogue.

“No, J. Lo did not just throw in a quick “LET’S GET LOUD.” LOLOLOLOL,” tweeted one.

“I am absolutely losing my mind at J.Lo adding "Let's Get Loud" into her performance,” added another.

“Me too, I loved it so freaking much,” replied a third.

Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.

As one Twitter user pointed out, Let’s Get Loud is more than just a chart-topping hit. It also represents JLo’s Puerto Rican heritage (her parents are both from the Caribbean island).

“‘Lets get loud’ is a call to Latinos to be heard. To fight for OUR voice to be heard. She wasn't plugging her song,” they explained.

Photo: Twitter.
Photo: Twitter.

Watch: Here’s what Jennifer Lopez said in Spanish at the inauguration