Critics have accused NBC of censorship after they edited out a message urging citizens to vote during their broadcast of the Billboard Music Awards on Wednesday night.
The incident occurred during Demi Lovato’s performance of her new anti-Trump anthem, Commander In Chief.
Raw footage of the performance, obtained by TMZ, shows that the act concluded with the word ‘VOTE’ appearing behind Lovato on a giant screen.
However, the word was cut from the broadcast which aired on NBC, with the camera instead zooming in close on the Grammy nominee’s face.
According to TMZ, Lovato’s message was reportedly cut because her scathing lyrics in combination with the word ‘VOTE’ would have been seen as a direct call to cast a ballot against Trump.
The song features the lyrics: ‘If I did the things you do/ I couldn’t sleep’, ‘We’ll still take a knee while you’re Commander-in-chief’, and ‘Wont give up, stand our ground/ We’ll be in the streets while you’re bunkering down’.
Critics have accused NBC of censorship after they edited out a message urging citizens to vote during Demi Lovato’s performance at the Billboard Music Awards on Wednesday night
Cut out: While the word ‘VOTE’ was clear to see in raw footage of the performance, NBC nixed the message and instead focused on the singer’s face
Fans took to Twitter to blast NBC for the alleged censorship.
One raged: ‘Demi Lovato had the courage that many artists don’t have – she criticized one of the biggest political leaders through music but NBC decided to censor the ‘VOTE’ message… Why @nbc?’
Another chimed in: ‘How dare you? @nbc you will NOT silence her.’
Others pointed out that Lovato’s performance was also left out of the many ‘suggested clips’ on NBC’s Twitter.
It comes as NBC faces criticism for agreeing to broadcast a town hall with President Trump on Thursday night.
Rival network ABC had already agreed to air a separate town hall featuring Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Many took to Twitter accusing NBC of forcing undecided voters to choose which broadcast they would need to watch as they will both air simultaneously.
According to sources, several NBC stars are said to be livid about the decision, saying it plays into Trump’s hands and is detrimental to Biden getting his message out to potential voters.
Interesting: Others pointed out her performance was left out of the six suggested performances from NBC’s Twitter to ‘relive’
Meanwhile, Lovato announced the release of her new anti-Trump anthem on Instagram on Tuesday.
She shared a stark black and white selfie in which she wore a face mask with the word VOTE.
In the caption, she included some of the track’s lyrics, while also taking the opportunity to make a call to action to her fans and followers to cast the ballot.
‘Won’t give up, stand our ground… We’ll be in the streets while you’re #CommanderInChief. Video dropping tomorrow,’ she wrote.
‘I’m calling on all of you, please join me in voting for this years election. Find your voter information at iwillvote.com‘ Demi concluded.
Diss track for Donald: Lovato surprise-dropped a new song on Tuesday night, titled Commander In Chief, which is an unapologetic call-out of US president Donald Trump
After her Billboard Music Awards, she revealed plans to release a music video, which she first teased on her Instagram Stories – with a collection of diverse actors lip synching the lyrics.
Seemingly a song written directly to Trump, passages in the verses include:
‘We were taught when we were young, If we fight for what’s right there won’t be justice for just some. We won’t give up, stand our ground. We’ll be in the streets while you’re bunkering down. Loud and proud, best believe, We’ll still take a knee, while you’re Commander in Chief.’
Speaking out: Lovato announced the release of Commander In Chief on Instagram, including some of the track’s lyrics while also making a call to action to her fans and followers to vote
Commander In Chief comes almost two weeks after another song from Demi, titled Still Have Me, which seems to be a breakup track after her failed romance with ex-fiance Max Ehrich.
The pair enjoyed a whirlwind and very public love affair this year, which led to them isolating together amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The dalliance, however, came to an abrupt stop at the end of the summer, when The Cool For The Summer songstress ended her two-month engagement to her Young and The Restless beau, 29, in the middle of September.
‘Loud and proud, best believe, We’ll still take a knee, while you’re Commander in Chief,’ Demi sings in the new song; seen on her IG Stories