Tina Arena’s performance with Katy Perry the AFL Grand Final left many Australians fuming, but it wasn’t just her vocal talents that they took issue with.
AFL bosses were reportedly hoping Katy and Tina’s starry duet at the MCG would replicate the success of Delta Goodrem’s song with Robbie Williams in 2022.
However, it left much to be admired as fans did not shy away from making their criticism of the very brief duet apparent in a string of scathing social media remarks.
Her ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ performance in front of 100,000 AFL fans was savagely compared to Meat Loaf’s disastrous 2011 AFL Grand Final headlining set.
But Aussies’ anger was also down to the fact that Tina – a vocal disapprover of Victoria’s past stringent Covid-19 lockdown rules – had been signed up for the gig.
While performing to 100,000 eager AFL fans, Katy had brought out Tina halfway through her 20-minute set for a duet of her smash hit I Kissed A Girl.
Dressed in coordinated metallic silver ensembles, the songstresses belted out the iconic chorus to the 2008 record, before it melded into Tina’s popular hit Chains.
But many viewers were not impressed by Tina’s very brief appearance on stage as they even went as far as to say she was worse than Meat Loaf in a savage dig.
Tina Arena’s performance with Katy Perry the AFL Grand Final left many Australians fuming, but it wasn’t just her vocal talents that they took issue with
While performing to 100,000 eager AFL fans, Katy had brought out Tina halfway through her 20-minute set for a duet of her smash hit I Kissed A Girl
The AFL infamously paid $500,000 to secure Meat Loaf for the Geelong-Collingwood final in 2011 in what is widely regarded as the worst entertainment ever staged at the year’s biggest game.
Brutally arguing that Tina had taken the crown, one fan took to X – formerly known as Twitter – to fume: ‘Even today, #Meat Loaf would be better than #TinaArena #cooker #AFLGF.’
Another said: ‘If I had it I would of laid $5Mil not to endure Tina Arena,’ while a third wrote: ‘Tina Arena has officially out done Meat Loaf as the worst AFL GF entertainment. Fuck that was horrid!’
A fourth joked: ‘So, the purpose of Tina Arena’s 1.5 minutes at the #AFLGF was??? She and Katy didn’t even make out during I Kissed a Girl!’
And a fifth added: ‘Meat Loaf is the worst #AFLGF entertainer. Katy Perry – Hold my Tina Arena.’
But before she even took to the stage, furious Aussies had already called for AFL fans to ‘boo’ Tina Arena during the AFL Final as they raged over her involvement.
Their duet left much to be admired as fans did not shy away from making their criticism of the very brief duet apparent in a string of scathing social media remarks
But many viewers were not impressed by Tina’s very brief appearance on stage as they even went as far as to say she was worse than Meat Loaf in a savage dig
The AFL infamously paid $500,000 to secure Meat Loaf (pictured in 2010) in 2011 in what is widely regarded as the worst entertainment ever staged at the year’s biggest game
Many AFL fans slammed AFL bosses’ decision to include Tina in the line-up, citing her divisive comments about Daniel Andrews’ lengthy Covid lockdowns in Victoria.
Taking to X – formerly known as Twitter – ahead of the final, one fan wrote: Everyone needs to Boo the f**k out of #TinaArena at the Grand Final Tomorrow!’
Another said: ‘TONE DEAF! Why on earth would the AFL pick a washed up, 90’s French-wannabe has-been as entertainment? Did they not learn anything from Meat Loaf?’
A third penned: ‘Katy Perry will be performing with Tina Arena tomorrow. Shall be interesting to see how many boos she gets from the 100,000 people in the stadium.’
‘Reserving my thoughts on Tina Arena performing with Katy Perry at the AFL GF for now,’ a fourth tweeted.
While another added: ‘Please tell me Victorians are going to boo Tina Arena?’
However, other fans shared their delight that Tina at taking to the stage alongside the Roar hitmaker as they lauded the collaboration and showed her support amid the criticism.
One wrote: ‘I adore Tina Arena! Absolute legend she is,’ and another shared: ‘Lmao society is f**ked if they boo Tina Arena.’
A third said: ‘Tina Arena is a wonderful choice,’ while a fourth commented: ‘I’d forgotten how good Tina Arena is.’
Dressed in coordinated metallic silver ensembles, the songstresses belted out the iconic chorus to the 2008 record, before it melded into Tina’s popular hit Chains
Tina sported a glittering silver ensemble to match Katy’s futuristic look as they stood back-to-back on stage while smoke machines billowed
Tina danced across the stage while Katy cheered her on, but not everyone was a big fan of the duet moment
The pair did a very unlikely medley of I Kissed A Girl and Chains for the 100,000 strong crowd at the event
Though Katy’s vocal talents were praised, Tina came under fire from fans for her appearance at the AFL Final
A fifth penned: ‘Melbourne at its best with the jewel in our crown, awesome Tina,’ and another added: ‘Tina, you are a true Melbourne icon.’
Tina previously sparked controversy with her disapproval of the very strict Victorian Covid-19 lockdowns and incited anger when she revealed she broke the rules to resist what she called a ‘totalitarian’ system.
She did not publicly endorse any conspiracy theories but admitted she broke the rule advising citizens not to travel more than 5kms from home unless necessary.
‘Why can’t you drive more than five kilometres? Guess what – watch me. So I did. I drove past my five kilometres,’ she told The Weekend Australian last year.
‘Am I a criminal now? You want to pull me up? Pull me up. You want to fine me? Fine me. I’m not the one with the issue here.
‘The issue is, there is no logic. You have no right to do that. You are fining me. This is totalitarian. We don’t work like that.’
Tina went on to claim that she hadn’t heard anyone else complaining about the stringent lockdowns as she doubled down on her criticism of the stringent rules.
Before she even took to the stage, furious Australians had called for AFL fans to ‘boo’ Tina Arena during the AFL Grand Final because of her divisive Covid remarks
‘I didn’t hear anybody complaining during lockdown other than me: ‘Why are we locked up? Where’s your science? What? Why?’,’ she went on.
‘The fear was so much for me; it was choking me, I was like, I can’t cope with all of you being so fear-driven like this, and compliant.’
In August last year, Tina broke her silence on the widespread backlash as she confessed she had been faced with ‘difficulties’ because of her vocal stance, but encouraged others to speak up for what they believe in.
She said: ‘Mine was difficult as well for a number of different reasons. Not only what I felt was an extraordinary imposition and it’s a stance that I’ve taken which a lot of people don’t really agree to.’
Speaking on Jonesy and Amanda, she told listeners she was not prepared to ‘hold back’ her own opinions and that people are free to think what ever they want.
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