Jack Harlow is getting real about why he decided to perform on the NFL halftime show on Thanksgiving — despite his set proving certainly one of the “worst” midgame shows ever, based on critics.
The 25-year-old rapper was mocked for his lackluster appearance on Thursday on the Lions-Packers NFL game in Detroit across social media, with one commenter saying he “ruined” the turkey holiday.
“On some real s – – t, the essential thing that pushed me to say yes to this Thanksgiving halftime show apart from the chance itself, is how much family I actually have in Detroit and all the times I spent growing up visiting the town,” Harlow penned on his Instagram stories Friday.
The “First Class” singer went on to recall a painful memory connected to Detroit and involving his family.
Harlow continued: “I kid you not, my great-great grandfather had a heart attack and passed away within the stands on the Lions Thanksgiving game within the Nineteen Sixties.
“I’m not even bullish-tting and I needed to bring it home for bro,” he added.
When Harlow took the stage Thursday, his singing sounded off-pitch and his backup dancers didn’t appear to be in sync with one another.
Viewers also got here at him for his low budget set, with one writing on X: “This Jack Harlow set budget was like 36 dollars.”
The Kentucky native kicked off his performance by emerging from a white paper tent meant to resemble an igloo.
“My Middle School play had Jack Harlow,” one other joked alongside a photograph of the tattered ice sculpture.
“I legitimately thought the dude within the blue fur hat was the worst ASL translator ever for the primary minute of the Jack Harlow halftime performance,” a user quipped about certainly one of Harlow’s dancers, who appeared in a fuzzy hat.
One person chimed in: “Dolly sonned Jack Harlow boring ass and he or she’s rattling near 80. Lady got here with a heartfelt smile, and made the group move. That’s the way you do it.”
Country music queen Dolly Parton also performed at a halftime show on Thursday. Nevertheless, unlike Harlow, she was generally praised for her work.
The 77-year-old “Jolene” singer donned a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader outfit at their game against the Washington Commanders in Texas — and the group went wild.
“She’s 77 and Dolly Parton just showed Madonna the way it’s done,” one admirer tweeted on X.
One other wrote: “Joe Biden is 81. Donald Trump is 77. If we now have to elect an old person, let or not it’s Dolly Parton.”