UPDATED: ABC ‘Good Morning America’ Cancels Adam Lambert’s Performance

Access Hollywood has learned from a rep for Adam Lambert that ABC’s “Good Morning America” has canceled the singer’s live morning show concert Wednesday morning.

An ABC News spokesperson tells Access, “Given his controversial live performance on the AMAs we were concerned about airing a similar concert so early in the morning.”

Adam has already performed on “GMA” before. He was a part of their summer concert series last August.

CBS has now announced that Adam will perform live on Wednesday, November 25 on “The Early Show.” CBS says he will also, “discuss his recent controversial ‘American Music Awards’ performance.” Adam will perform two songs on “The Early Show,” but will not perform “For Your Entertainment,” his song from the AMAs.

On Monday, Adam pre-taped a performance for the “Late Show With David Letterman,” which will air on Wednesday night. He’ll sing the Pink-penned song “Whataya Want from Me.” 

“The song I’m performing on Letterman is a totally different energy,” Adam told Access’ Shaun Robinson backstage at the AMAs. “My album, the thing about it is, song by song it’s a different vibe, tonight what you saw, was one energy, it was about going to a club, it was about feeling sexy, it’s about flirting… Tomorrow on Letterman, you’re going to see a song that’s a different side of me as an artist, it’s more about vulnerability and love and the search for love. Not shenanigans in a club.”

Other future TV appearances for Adam include Ellen DeGeneres’ show on December 1.

Following his “GMA” cancellation Tuesday morning, Adam called into Ryan Seacrest’s radio show to discuss this latest hiccup. “It’s choreography, we were dancing,” he said to Ryan about the AMA performance. “The sexuality of it kind of got a little more extreme when I got up on stage. I think the adrenaline kind of took me over, and I admit it, and I’m proud of the fact that I did get a little carried away.”

“I don’t feel I owe anyone an apology for anything. I performed, it was late night TV, I did something that female performers have been doing for years, no different. It’s just the fact that I’m me and it’s a little different for people. It’s really not that big of a deal. I’m not a babysitter, I’m a performer,” he added.

Following his racy performance on the American Music Awards on Sunday, reaction was split over his performance – many fans favored Adam’s open artistic expression, while many concerned folks condemned it. Still others criticized it for just being too pitchy and off-key.

ABC received around 1,500 negative comments regarding Adam’s AMAs performance, which is considered “moderate.”

However, the Parents Television Council (PTC) does not think “GMA” should have canceled Adam’s performance. Dan Isett, Director of Public Policy for the PTC tells Access, “I do think it’s a little bit unfortunate. This is not a personal crusade against Adam Lambert.”

“The idea that he should be scrubbed from TV completely is not where we’re going,” Isett continued. “It may be a bit of an overreaction on ABC’s part. The important thing is that networks have the easy ability to air on a delay to prevent this sort of thing.”

But the PTC felt differently about Adam’s appearance on the AMAs. Lambert “chose to treat American families to simulated (sic) sex and other demeaning behavior,” Tim Winter, president of the PTC said on Monday.

Winter continued, “ABC and Dick Clark Productions had every reason to know what to expect, as Lambert himself proclaimed that his performance would be ‘very sexy’ and would include leather and chains. But the producers and the network chose to bury their heads in the sand.”

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) issued the following statement late in the day on Tuesday after discussions with “Good Morning America” staff members following their decision to cancel Adam’s performance:

“Some music performances, regardless of the sexual orientation of the performer, are tailored for a primetime audience but not for a morning show audience,” said Jarrett Barrios, President of GLAAD. “It is disappointing that ‘Good Morning America’ did not give Adam Lambert the opportunity to tailor his performance to their audience, as he did on their show in August 2009. We applaud the ‘CBS Early Show’ for taking this opportunity to work with Lambert on a performance that is entertaining for an early morning television audience.”

During calls with GLAAD, “Good Morning America” confirmed that sexual orientation did not play a role in their decision. GLAAD advocated that Good Morning America work with and host Adam Lambert and continue to host openly gay and lesbian performers and guests in the future.

Adam’s AMAs performance has already received many mixed messages of support on AccessHollywood.com.

Brian R. Parris wrote, “What the (heck) is wrong with American and Americans, the culture over here is much too prudish and wishy washy. This was one of the most positive things that could have been done on national television.”

Yet Wendy Stacy wrote, “Adam and any other so called performer has no business acting in such poor taste for all the world to see. Music is about art, creativity and beauty…”

readers is mixed. 54% of the AH Nation thinks, “Yes, (Adam’s performance) was too racy for primetime TV. While 46% thinks, “It was great entertainment.”

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