“What the hell was that?” screamed a viewer after Zara Larsson’s performance on the Today Show, igniting a firestorm of criticism. The 28-year-old Swedish pop sensation kicked off the show’s Summer Concert Series on Friday morning, but not everyone was ready to dance along.
Some NBC viewers were quick to label the performance as “overly sexual,” claiming it sets a poor example for impressionable youth. One outraged commenter on X blasted, “No wonder this younger generation is whacked out. These performers on Today morning show. Zara Larsson and her dancers.”
In a thread where someone praised Zara’s looks, the same critic quipped, “I’m waiting for some female performer to come out on stage wearing just a g-string and pasties. That’ll really be something to look up to.” Another chimed in, “This Zara Larsson on the Today Show is teaching young girls how to act like hos…”
But hold up! Not everyone was throwing shade. Supporters rallied behind Zara, with one fan declaring, “They can never make me hate her,” while another gushed, “It’s really hard not to love this girl. She is amazing.”
Amidst the chaos, fans noticed a dramatic moment: Zara’s heel broke after just three songs. But did that stop her? Absolutely not! She powered through, announcing, “We gotta dance extra hard because I lost my heel!” as she showcased her missing sparkly silver stiletto.
Despite the setback, Zara kept the energy high, effortlessly executing viral dance moves and engaging with the audience. After belting out hits like Midnight Sun, Pretty Ugly, and Stateside, she brought Today co-host Sheinelle Jones onstage for a lively Lush Life dance-off.
Even when she returned to perform Blue Moon during the 3rd Hour of Today, her broken shoe had been swapped out for a fresh pair. Talk about resilience!
In a candid moment on the show, Zara reflected on her vibrant personal style: “Now, as I’m older, I really practice to be present and to be in the moment,” she shared. “I feel really grateful and happy for everything that’s happening.”
She elaborated on her colorful fashion choices, saying, “I think it’s just coming back to what I was watching growing up and my fantasy of what an adult wears and is. I used to try to suppress that a little bit because I wanted people to look at me as cool and fashionable but now I’m just like, ‘Let’s just be true. Let’s just be true to who I am,’ which is very sparkly, on the edge of a little tacky, just fun, colorful.”
