Tina Arena’s performance with Katy Perry at the AFL Grand Final left many Australians furious, but it wasn’t just her vocal talent they took issue with.
AFL bosses were reportedly hoping Katy and Tina’s star duo at the MCG would replicate the success of Delta Goodrem’s song with Robbie Williams in 2022.
However, it left a lot to admire, as fans did not shy away from making their criticism of the short-lived duo evident in a series of scathing comments on social media.
His blink-and-you’ll-miss-it performance in front of 100,000 AFL fans was wildly compared to Meat Loaf’s disastrous performance in the 2011 AFL Grand Final.
But Australians’ anger was also due to the fact that Tina, who openly disapproved of Victoria’s strict Covid-19 lockdown rules, had signed up for the concert.
While performing for 100,000 enthusiastic AFL fans, Katy brought out Tina midway through her 20-minute set for a duet of her smash hit I Kissed A Girl.
Dressed in coordinated metallic silver outfits, the singers belted out the iconic chorus from the 2008 record, before merging it with Tina Chains’ popular hit.
But many viewers were unimpressed by Tina’s brief appearance on stage, going so far as to say she was worse than Meat Loaf in a wild dig.
Tina Arena’s performance with Katy Perry at the AFL Grand Final left many Australians furious, but it wasn’t just her vocal talent that they took issue with.
While performing for 100,000 enthusiastic AFL fans, Katy brought out Tina midway through her 20-minute set for a duet of her smash hit I Kissed A Girl.
The AFL 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 in the biggest game of the year.
Brutally arguing that Tina had taken the crown, one fan took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to rage: “Even today #Meat Loaf would be better than #TinaArena #cooker #AFLGF.”
Another said: “If I had it I would have bet $5 million not to put up with Tina Arena,” while a third wrote: “Tina Arena has officially overtaken Meat Loaf as the worst AFL GF entertainment.” ‘Fuck, that was horrible!’
A fourth joked: ‘So the purpose of Tina Arena’s 1.5 minutes in the #AFLGF was??? ‘She and Katy didn’t even kiss during I Kissed a Girl!’
And a fifth added: ‘Meat Loaf is the worst artist in the #AFLGF. Katy Perry – Hold my Tina Arena.’
But even before she took to the stage, furious Australians had already called on AFL fans to ‘boo’ Tina Arena during the AFL final as they were furious about her involvement.
Their duet left a lot to admire, as fans did not shy away from making their criticism of the short-lived duo evident in a series of scathing comments on social media.
But many viewers were unimpressed by Tina’s brief appearance on stage, going so far as to say she was worse than Meat Loaf in a wild 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 in the biggest game of the year.
Many AFL fans criticized AFL bosses’ decision to include Tina in the line-up, citing her divisive comments about Daniel Andrews’ prolonged Covid lockdowns in Victoria.
On
Another said: ‘DEAF! Why would the AFL choose a 90s French wannabe for entertainment? Didn’t they learn anything from Meat Loaf?
A third wrote: ‘Katy Perry is performing with Tina Arena tomorrow. “It will be interesting to see how many boos he gets from the 100,000 people in the stadium.”
“I’m reserving my thoughts on Tina Arena’s performance with Katy Perry at the AFL GF for now,” tweeted a fourth.
While another added: “Please tell me Victorians are going to boo Tina Arena.”
However, other fans shared their joy that Tina took to the stage alongside the Roar hitmaker as they praised the collaboration and showed their support amid the criticism.
One wrote: ‘I love Tina Arena! She is an absolute legend,” and another shared, “Lmao society is screwed if they boo Tina Arena.”
A third said: “Tina Arena is a wonderful choice,” while a fourth commented: “I had forgotten how good Tina Arena is.”
Dressed in coordinated metallic silver outfits, the singers sang the iconic chorus from the 2008 record, before merging it with Tina Chains’ popular hit.
Tina rocked a sparkly silver ensemble that matched Katy’s futuristic look as they stood back to back on stage as smoke machines billowed.
Tina danced around the stage as Katy cheered her on, but not everyone was a fan of the duet moment.
Although Katy’s vocal talent was praised, Tina was criticized by fans for her appearance in the AFL final.
A fifth wrote: “Melbourne at its finest with the jewel in our crown, amazing Tina,” and another added: “Tina, you are a true Melbourne icon.”
Tina previously sparked controversy with her disapproval of very strict Victorian Covid-19 lockdowns and incited anger when she revealed she broke the rules to resist what she called a “totalitarian” system.
He did not publicly endorse any conspiracy theories, but admitted that he violated the rule advising citizens not to travel more than five kilometers from home unless necessary.
‘Why can’t you drive more than five kilometers? Guess what, look at me. So I did it. “I drove beyond my five kilometres,” he told The Weekend Australian last year.
‘Am I a criminal now? Do you want to get me up? Lift me up. Do you want to fine me? Fine with me. I’m not the one who has the problem here.
‘The point is that there is no logic. You have no right to do that. You’re fining me. This is totalitarian. We don’t work like that.’
Tina went on to claim that she had not heard anyone else complain about the strict lockdowns and doubled down on her criticism of the strict rules.
Even before she took to the stage, furious Australians had called on AFL fans to ‘boo’ Tina Arena during the AFL Grand Final because of her divisive comments about Covid.
‘I didn’t hear anyone complain during lockdown apart from me: ‘Why are we locked down?’ Where is your science? That? Why?’ he continued.
‘The fear was so much for me; I was suffocating, I thought, I can’t stand all of you being so fear-driven and docile.’
In August last year, Tina broke her silence over the widespread backlash when she confessed she had faced “difficulties” because of her stance, but encouraged others to speak out about what they believe.
She said: ‘Mine was difficult too for a number of different reasons. Not only was what I felt was an extraordinary imposition, but it is a position that I have taken and that many people really disagree with.’
Speaking about Jonesy and Amanda, she told listeners that she was not prepared to “suppress” her own opinions and that people are free to think what they want.
