Black Folk Had A Problem With J. Lo’s Motown Tribute…Smokey Robinson Said They’re Stupid

Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty

Last week, there were rumblings that Jennifer Lopez would be performing during a Motown tribute. In the Black year of 2019, during the 61st celebration of the Grammy Awards. The news spread far and wide and Black folks were fiery in their dissension. But when the Grammys released their list of performers on their website, J. Lo’s name was conveniently left off the list, so we assumed that it was a lie to start drama or that someone had come to their senses and realized that a White-presenting Puerto Rican woman shouldn’t honor a record label that was about excellence in Black artistry and entrepreneurship.

But we were wrong. And last night, Jenny from the block took the stage to honor legends who could have easily performed themselves.

Check it out below.

That just wasn’t it.

And as expected the backlash poured in. Interestingly enough though, there was one Motown legend, who didn’t seem to take issue with J. Lo’s performance…at all. And that was Smokey Robinson, who helped Alicia Keys to introduce J. Lo’s nearly 7-minute medley. In an interview with Variety, Robinson said anyone who took issue with J. Lo’s performance is “stupid.” 

“I don’t think anyone who is intelligent is upset,” he said. “I think anyone who is upset is stupid.”

Robinson claimed that Motown music is “for everybody.”

“Who’s stupid enough to protest Jennifer Lopez doing anything for Motown?” Smokey asked.

Well, that’s one opinion. But based on the reaction from more than a few other people, Robison was in the minority. See what other folks had to say about Lopez on the following pages.