It has been exactly two years since then AdelThe viral NBA meme was born, and at her Las Vegas residency show over the weekend, the 35-year-old singer finally shared the story behind it.
In a video shot on Saturday night (February 17) at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Adele asks her audience, “Remember that viral meme where I looked like I didn't give a shit?”
She then recreated the famous video on stage, looking left and right as if to avoid eye contact with her audience — just as she did when she faced a camera on February 20, 2022 at that year's NBA All-Star Game, in which friend, sports agent Rich Paul, attended with her.
“I know it sounds crazy, but I really don't like being famous,” the “Easy On Me” singer explained, telling the crowd that she felt the need to provide “context” for the video. “Obviously I'm sitting courtside at a basketball game, you ask for it, whatever. Rich works the room, talks to players. And I was fine. I was there by myself and I was looking for Michael Jordan, if I'm honest.”
According to Adele, the camera crew at Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse approached her twice while she was sitting alone to ask if she was comfortable being filmed, which she politely declined both times. Even so, her image was blasted on the jumbotron at the game — and on national television.
“I was mortified,” she said, adding that she felt very embarrassed at the time because of the cancellation of her original stay in Vegas. “I was like, 'These mothers are back and they're filming me against my will.'
“Also, my face is very memorable,” he added. “I can't help it.”
The Grammy winner has been performing for fans in Vegas since late 2022 for her Weekends With Adele residency, with dates scheduled through June of this year. According to her, her shows often create funny viral moments – one of the most recent was when the “Rolling in the Deep” singer hilariously slammed critics of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's romance.
“I think I want the Chiefs to win,” he said at the time, the night before the Kansas City team triumphed in the 2024 Super Bowl. “And all of you who complain about Taylor being in the game, get a life. He's her boyfriend!”
Watch Adele reflect on her viral NBA meme below.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/adele-explains-viral-nba-game-meme-1235610933/
