Kid Laroi took to the stage at the 2024 NRL Grand Final at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Sunday night with an incredible pre-game performance.
However, the Australian rapper, 21, divided viewers when he ended the set with a cover of the 1987 song Never Tear Us Apart by Australian rock band INXS.
Fans and critics flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts, with some saying the musician had “guts” for trying to cover the iconic hit.
‘It takes some guts to take on the INXS classic. “Kid Laroi did well… I’ve heard worse,” one person wrote.
‘I’ll give Kid Laroi credit for having the guts to take on an INXS classic!’ said another.
Meanwhile, others were furious that the singer-songwriter dared to play such a ‘classic’.
“Ok, he just lost me, dammit, no slaughtering classic Aussie snapper Kid Laroi.” Michael Hutchence (late INXS leader) is rolling in his grave,” said one user.
‘Thank you Kid Laroi for reminding me why Michael Hutchence is so iconic. “It’s very, very difficult to do it justice with a Never Tear Us Apart cover,” added another.
Kid Laroi (pictured) took to the stage at the 2024 NRL Grand Final at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Sunday night with an incredible pre-game performance.
A third wrote: “You should have left INXS off your set list Kid Laroi.”
While some criticized the young Australian artist for his tribute, other fans praised him for putting on an ‘epic’ performance.
“Laroi kid just knocked it out of the park at the #NRLGrandFinal,” one user wrote.
‘I’M SO JEALOUSSS THIS PERFORMANCE BY KID LAROI IS EPIC,’ said another.
Someone else added: “Kid Laroi is extremely talented and I won’t hear otherwise.”
The NRL getting Kid Laroi is a fucking bummer,” one wrote, while someone else said: “Ok take us Mr The Kid Laroi.”
However, the Australian rapper, 21, divided viewers when he ended the set with a cover of the 1987 song Never Tear Us Apart by Australian rock band INXS.
Moments before the set, viewers at home, watching the NRL Grand Final between the Panthers and Storm on Channel Nine, criticized the performer for arriving late.
Laroi was scheduled to start at 6.30pm at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, but did not take the stage until just after 7pm.
“When does Kid Laroi sing?” one person said, while another added: “Kid Laroi, advertised all week for 6:30pm, will take the stage closer to 7:05pm.”
‘Wasn’t the entertainment supposed to start at 6:30? Why is Kid Laroi late? another wrote.
Someone else joked: “Turns out they were referring to Kid Laroi at 6:30pm South Australian time.”
Fans and critics flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts, with some saying the musician had “guts” for trying to cover the iconic hit.
Elsewhere, some viewers had trouble watching Laroi’s performance due to the large number of smoke effects used on stage.
‘Can anyone really see Kid Laroi with all the fog on stage?’ someone lamented.
Another added: “Welcome to the smoke show. Kid Laroi can’t even see if you’re in the stadium.”
“It’s giving The Kid Laroi fog,” one person wrote, while another said: “Trying to see The Kid Laroi between all the white lights and smoke.”
Others are comparing Laroi’s performance to Katy Perry’s $5 million outfit for the AFL Grand Final last Saturday.
Many viewers were unimpressed with the choice of the NRL headliner.
‘No wonder the AFL spent $5 million on Kate Perry. What the hell is a Kid Laroi? wrote one.
‘At least Kid Laroi is Australian,’ another added while a third commented: ‘Katy Who…Kid Laroi is killing it!’
‘Katy Perry 1; Kid Laroi 0’, a spectator noted
Another agreed: “So the AFL has Katy Perry as their entertainment and the NRL has The Kid Laroi – imagine that.”
But someone else said: ‘The Kid Laroi > Katy Perry #sorrynotsorry.’
‘I love Kid Laroi and I’m excited about this. “This is 2000 times better than Katy Perry,” one fan commented.
Several noted that it was difficult to see the singer due to the special effects of the smoke.
‘Can anyone really see Kid Laroi with all the fog on stage?’ someone lamented
Others were generally unenthusiastic about the pop star.
‘Wow. The Kid Laroi is basic. Could no one else have arrived tonight? one person asked while another said, “Kid Laroi is so bad.”
“I would be so mad if I spent money to go to the grand final and had to sit through a Kd Laroi set,” another posted.
‘Kid Laroi wtf massive L’ complained one viewer while another said: ‘Who or what is The Kid Laroi? I haven’t really heard of him.’
“Why does the NRL always cut corners and buy pre-game entertainment from Temu?” one more asked.
“I can’t wait for that Laroi boy to come out.” – No NRL fans. Sometimes someone else intervened.
Faring better on X Factor Australia was Dami Im, who impressed viewers with her performance of the national anthem.
The 35-year-old singer didn’t miss a beat as she performed a soulful version of the iconic song, leaving those tuning in at home emotional.
Many shared their thoughts with X, with unanimous praise for the Eurovision star.
‘Dami absolutely destroyed that! “We get goosebumps,” wrote one person watching the performance.
‘Dami, I’m always getting it right at an anthem session,’ said another, while one more agreed: ‘Dami, I just trashed that national anthem!’
‘A brilliant rendition of the National Anthem!’ posted someone else with another comment: ‘Dami, I’m doing the national anthem is clutch.’
“Dami Im with an absolutely stunning rendition of the national anthem,” said another impressed fan.
‘Maybe they should have swapped Dani Im and Kid Laroi… he has a really good voice!’ someone else said, referring to the choice of the night’s headliner.
‘Dami doing a nice job with the National Anthem,’ agreed one more person on social media.