Cee-Lo flips bird, drops F-bomb at Obama fundraiser
AP photo
Cee-Lo Green’s infectious chart-topping song “(Blank) You” can’t be played in its original form on FM stations and it can’t be quoted exactly in a family newspaper. But it can be played at a presidential fundraiser, evidently.
Here’s a link to a video clip of Green dropping the F-bomb and giving the one-finger salute during a Friday fundraiser in Atlanta for President Barack Obama. Obama had a number of fundraising stops here that day, and was not present during Green’s time on stage. The AJC did have a reporter at the event but he also did not witness the performance as reporters were held in a separate location at the time. A pool reporter who was granted access to the room said he was not close enough to the stage to hear clearly.
The video clip is pretty clear, though. On commercial airwaves Green’s song has been rendered into the more family-friendly “Forget You,” but the clip shows him launching into the unedited version.
The artist exuberantly previewed his performance ahead of time, tweeting: “ATL is FIRED UP for President Barack Obama tonight! I’m performing, Tyler Perry (is) hosting. You in for #Obama2012?”
But after his unedited version of the song, a fellow tweeter scolded, ”You have no class at all, very disrespectful tonight. #TheVoice should be ashamed of you right now.”
(Green’s repertoire now includes a role on the reality show “The Voice.”)
Green tweeted in response, “Well (they’re) not!” and added, “it was a mistake sir.” But he didn’t seem too broken up, going on to tweet, “All of you heard the song a thousand times so don’t get all saint on me.”
Green’s Twitter profile photo is a cartoon rendition of him standing strategically in front of his controversial lyrics.
Do you think the performance was in poor taste, or was he simply exercising his First Amendment rights?
- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz
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309 comments Add your comment
A Conservative with good taste
March 19th, 2012
11:49 am
It was in poor taste which is exactly what I would expect from an Obummer supporter. This country made a mistake 3 years ago but hopefully we won’t make the same mistake again. So, will the president let his daughters listen to that?
Larry
March 19th, 2012
11:50 am
It is me
March 19th, 2012
10:06 am
“I believe in free speech . . matters not who says it. I don’t care if it offends someone or not (or groups of people) because free speech would allow them to rebute. There was a time people could say what was on their mind and I think that should be the case now, because what we have now is some groups get to say whatever they want while others aren’t allowed. That isn’t free speech! There isn’t a person in this world who is free of being offended by something!! So let’s get over the excuse of “being offended” as a reason to not allow free speech!!”
Yes, stupid, it IS you!
There’s a huge difference between freedom of expression and vulgar, abusive or threatening expression.
Don’t believe it? Then try expressing openly near the White House lawn what you would like to do to Obama when he walks out the front door! We’ll see how “free” you are then.
GetReal
March 19th, 2012
12:01 pm
I don’t think it was in poor taste as much as it is a sign of the times we live in.
Serawyn
March 19th, 2012
12:02 pm
You can’t expect the guy who became a household name because of this song not to do this. Answer to the question-both…but the bad taste lies with the people who organized the event and okay’d him to perform this particular song . He is who he is and does what he does…it is to be expected.
carla roqs
March 19th, 2012
12:03 pm
atlanta is clearly not the city too busy to hate, anymore. hope you people have replacement glass homes for all of those houses your stones are breaking.
J. J.
March 19th, 2012
12:03 pm
A No No Cee Lo…..U must try to be classy…You embarrass yourself and family.
But, I forgive you….You got too “caught up” in the moment, on the negative side…..
Michael
March 19th, 2012
12:04 pm
Such a lack of protocol and embarrassment.
pmuckle
March 19th, 2012
12:07 pm
well what the heck you expect! it cee-lo. i was shocked he was performing. i would rather had seen someone else other than him
Ackshun
March 19th, 2012
12:15 pm
WOW. This is just typical. Some of the same people who are complainng about this have listened to Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, and Katt Williams. People pay people to curse all the time so it’s nothing new. And let us not forget that the song in it’s original form went viral at a record pace which means, wait for it… Your children just LOVE IT! But now cause everybody is tired of hearing Hip Hop and RB wafting from the windows of the oval office, it’s a big deal. This world and you yourselves sold your morals for expediency a long long time ago.
Don’t act like you have sticker shock now..
KimZ'sPackage
March 19th, 2012
12:16 pm
GetReal
March 19th, 2012
12:01 pm
I don’t think it was in poor taste as much as it is a sign of the times we live in.
Hahahahah SIGN of the TIMES is people Have no CLASS or Taste
ohnochinko
March 19th, 2012
12:18 pm
Oh how I wish I had the cash to just get the heck out of town with all of you Bigots/Bi-otche’s for Obama ready to give him another four years – just because he’s black and he likes to give stuff away. Wake up you B’s for O.
Kyle
March 19th, 2012
12:19 pm
I’m surprised that AJC even reported this at all but if it was a Conservative it would be on the front page for a week.
KimZ'sPackage
March 19th, 2012
12:23 pm
Could you see Lo,Class Green preforming that song for the Queen of England? You just know he is waiting for the day Oprah gets married so he can sing that song at her wedding. The guy is LO-CLASS and he like most people now don’t respect this OBAMAnation presidency.
mike b
March 19th, 2012
12:29 pm
Is anyone really surprised that this happened? Me….no.
BADA BING
March 19th, 2012
12:30 pm
Daddy, when you return from your fundraiser, could you bring me a Cee Lo album?
Iloveuga
March 19th, 2012
12:33 pm
RXDawg-agreed! Trash, but not surprised.
OMG-obama must go!
Jason
March 19th, 2012
12:33 pm
Why do we even consider certain words to be profane, but other words or euphamisms don’t have this same magical power to make self righteous people’s heads explode? These same people would be fine if the words were “make whoopie with you.”
Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE
March 19th, 2012
12:37 pm
Got caught up in ALL the d’town traffic this arrogant ass Apologizer, Campaigner in Chief caused by coming in to Downtown ATL at the height of rush hour traffic. What a tool, I also gave him the finger as his motorcade passed us on 85, Respect the office, NOT THE MAN! What A TOOL! What’s embarrassing is this current administration not being a solid leader and apologizing for us being a super power around the World! Our Soldiers, Airman, Marines, & Naval men, & even Coast Guardsman throughout history did not sacrifice and wins battles in ALL wars/conflicts since American revolution so this tool could trash our efforts! STOP APOLOGIZING OBAMA and grow some…
Patrick Romano USAF Veteran
BADA BING
March 19th, 2012
12:37 pm
Cee Lo’s last name must be Class. Cee Lo-Class.
Sick & Tired
March 19th, 2012
12:38 pm
Well, if they paid $35,000 per ticket for this fundraising event, maybe Obama needs to rethink who is hosting the fundraisers. Also, maybe Obama could reimburse the taxpayers some of the money he has spent while campaigning (transportation and the like) since he has accumulated a substantial sum in donations!!!
BADA BING
March 19th, 2012
12:43 pm
A rapper could release a song with nothing but 500 curse words and a strong bass line, and it would go to #1 in a week.
Jarrod
March 19th, 2012
12:45 pm
The story begins—-> “Obama had a number of fundraising stops here that day, and was not present during Green’s time on stage. The AJC did have a reporter at the event but he also did not witness the performance as reporters were held in a separate location at the time. A pool reporter who was granted access to the room said he was not close enough to the stage to hear clearly.”
but they ran the story anyway
justin
March 19th, 2012
12:51 pm
@ Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE
March 19th, 2012
12:37 pm
Got caught up in ALL the d’town traffic this arrogant ass Apologizer, Campaigner in Chief caused by coming in to Downtown ATL at the height of rush hour traffic. What a tool, I also gave him the finger as his motorcade passed us on 85, Respect the office, NOT THE MAN! What A TOOL! What’s embarrassing is this current administration not being a solid leader and apologizing for us being a super power around the World! Our Soldiers, Airman, Marines, & Naval men, & even Coast Guardsman throughout history did not sacrifice and wins battles in ALL wars/conflicts since American revolution so this tool could trash our efforts! STOP APOLOGIZING OBAMA and grow some…
Patrick Romano USAF Veteran
waah waah waah…..stop balling and wipe your snotty nose and get a life
Wavedy
March 19th, 2012
12:55 pm
Don’t y’all know that all that matters is that KING OBAMA be praised and glorified!! That is all that matters. If the great KING is glorified then you can do anything you want.
BOB FROM ACCOUNT TEMPS
March 19th, 2012
12:57 pm
i don’t care for this potus, but i don’t blame him. i blame his advance people for not thinking about this sort of possibility and keeping it from happening.
Wanda White
March 19th, 2012
12:57 pm
For CeeLo to disrespect President Obama like he did is a good reason to boycott The Voice, ban his records from being played on the radio, and remove all of his CD’s from being sold in any and all stores. People like CeeLo have abused “Freedom of Speech” and is an embarassment to the human race. Wash out your mouth CeeLo and act like a black man with dignity and respect!
Dr E
March 19th, 2012
12:59 pm
Ignorance and stupidity at its best, to say the least. The bar is continuing to be lowered.
Own it Don't Blame It
March 19th, 2012
1:02 pm
The song was inappropriate for this event. When are self-centered people going to learn it is not about their agenda; it would have been more suitable to perform a song with a positive message or a song that supported the theme of the event.
George
March 19th, 2012
1:04 pm
You people have a hellva nerve to ever talk about class please check your dam history. i really do not give a dam who the President is because you have to take care of your dam self they are all rich.
BADA BING
March 19th, 2012
1:04 pm
Maybe obama wanted a h*ll raiser at his fund raiser.
Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE
March 19th, 2012
1:05 pm
@ Justin,
My life’s Justin Fine, watched my nephew pitch up in Lagrange Friday with Family, played 2 rounds of Golf at Chateau Elan this W/End, shot in the 80’s partied with great friends at Paddy’s Pub at Chateau celebrating my patron Saint’s Day Sat and have enjoyed great success with family, friends and life in general with our 12 Stone Church so I don’t get your pinhead comment, sounds like you have a little penis envy. Keep on smiling, Ahole!
KimZ'sPackage
March 19th, 2012
1:06 pm
Own it Don’t Blame it…..it was the song to fit the Theme. F-U is what Obamanation is doing to the USA.
alvapbuch
March 19th, 2012
1:06 pm
Another way to blame “The President Of The United States” for something and “IDIOT” said. Did the President know how stupid Cee-Lo was? The person that scheduled the show should have known and should be the one catching heat for not getting someone with more CLASS”. Most of the Obama haters “conveniently” forget what a MESS this country was in Before he became president and what a laughing stock the US was in all other countries. Now that we have a president that can speak intellligently and form a proper sentence, “they” don’t like it!! So they try to tear him down every chance they get
Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE
March 19th, 2012
1:07 pm
Justin,
BTW, You Can’t Fix Stupid!
Diane
March 19th, 2012
1:08 pm
I think he got too caught up in the moment of the crowd and actually forgot that this was a Presidential fundraiser and that all caution and mild manners had to be exercised as opposed to going on the hype of the crowd as if it was a regular concert. Frankly, he should apologize and be done with it instead of trying to defend it. Regardless of people hearing the song a million times, it’s still inappropriate for a Presidential Fundraiser. Even if Pbama heard it a million times, I’m sure he didn’t want that version for his public fundraiser cause it will only give the GOP’s something to talk about for who his supporters are….even though Biden (gotta love him), has said much worse as Vice Prresident and makes no apologies. Biden gets to say what Obama wants to.
PJ
March 19th, 2012
1:09 pm
When the fundraisers hired a performer whose most famous song is called “F*** You”, they had to know there was a good chance he would sing it (in it’s raw form). Of course, it was in poor taste. It’s disrespectful to the President, both the man and the office, and to the audience. Yes, he exercised free speech, but, once again, part of growing up is learning that just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Just a thought: I wonder if President Obama lets his daughters listen to that song.
Leigh
March 19th, 2012
1:11 pm
It’s completely possible to use your right to free speech in an ignorant way. So the answer to your article question is, both.
Fiasco
March 19th, 2012
1:11 pm
No amount of money can buy brains and class. But one is always able to show their arse.
But hey, it is ok when you are a liberal to be a classless act be you Green or Maher or Shultz
or any of the other clowns that go on hateful rants on a daily basis.
John Boehner's Tanning Bed
March 19th, 2012
1:12 pm
TAUDAWG: I said I didn’t like it but what am I supposed to do? I don’t like Newt talking about morals. He has none! I think this is the danger you get into when you have a music artist stumping for you. Alot of Republicans (and Dems) would love to have Hank, Jr stump for them. Even though he is a drunk, washed up, woman beating has been. Ted Nugent is a mysoginistic jerk. Do we need to get into Kid Rock? The last interview that I read with him in Rolling Stone, he was bragging about snorting cocaine! These people are out stumping for Repubs. Should it bother Romeny that Kid Rock is bragging about drug use? I think it should. I think it should bother the President what Cee-Lo did. It probably did. Cee-Loo or Rush Limbaugh, they are all just entertainers. If you like Rush, what he says will not bother you. If you like Cee-Lo, what he says probably will not bother you. It is just the way it is. I wish they would all clean it up. That goes for Rush and Cee-Lo.
Scooter
March 19th, 2012
1:20 pm
Jt, hate much? Sorry, it wasn’t the White House… it was The Obama’s website. None the less, the leader of the free world should be above that type jargon.
http://dailycaller.com/2010/04/01/new-arrival-at-obama-store-health-care-is-a-bfd-t-shirt/
As I See It
March 19th, 2012
1:21 pm
I really don’t like for the Obamas to engage these type people at their events. You know what you’re getting, so why have them even possibly sully your event? Just as I don’t like for Michelle Obama to mostly be so bare-armed. It is just NOT First-Lady-like. Too bare. I know what crazy stuff some other folks ahve done, but I want them to excel in ALL points.
What a expect
March 19th, 2012
1:21 pm
Another episode of what our society is coming to. No integrity and no class.
As I See It
March 19th, 2012
1:23 pm
To Bob from Account Temps at 12:57 pm; Amen!! You are spot on with that comment.
Stevcue
March 19th, 2012
1:23 pm
He is no worst than Rush Limbaugh who is the unoffical head of the Republican Party!!!!
Cee-Lo Bird Flip | News One
March 19th, 2012
1:31 pm
[...] Apparently, not everyone learned from M.I.A.‘s bird flip fiasco. While M.I.A. had many up in arms for sticking up her middle finger during the Superbowl, Cee-Lo Green thought it would be appropriate to follow suit at President Barack Obama‘s fund-raising event in Atlanta, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. [...]
marcus
March 19th, 2012
1:31 pm
you ever see this guy? thank god he has money….
Not surprised
March 19th, 2012
1:35 pm
PURE TRASH !!!
Lee
March 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
America do the same to Cee-Lo and do one better stop buying his music. Salute that Cee-Lo?
Arleen
March 19th, 2012
1:51 pm
Never heard the song before. Happy for that!
John
March 19th, 2012
1:55 pm
Cee-Lo is a very talented artist, but lately his antics are getting on my nerves. His ego has swollen since the success of his last album and tv show. He’s gonna step on the wrong toes and land in hot water with the public and media if he keeps showing how ignornant he can be at times. Calm down Cee-Lo geesh! That was tacky behavior for such an important event.