Adele explains her 'very annoyed' basketball reaction meme

Virgin Radio

20 Feb 2024, 11:34

Adele has opened up about the meme of her sat pouting at a basketball game two years on from when it first went viral.

The ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ singer referenced the 2022 pop culture moment during a recent performance of her Las Vegas residency, in a moment which was filmed and later posted by a fan on TikTok.

Speaking to the audience at her concert, the multi award-winning singer-songwriter suddenly asked if everyone present remembered the meme which had come from her appearance at an NBA All-Stars game in Cleveland, Ohio.

“Do you remember that viral meme of me looking like I don’t give a flying ****? Looking everywhere but the camera?” she asked the crowd. “I’d like to give some context to that meme.

“So, I know it sounds crazy,” she continued, “But I really don’t like being famous, right? So obviously, I know sitting courtside at a basketball game, you’re asking for it, whatever… But the people with the camera came and asked me twice, they were like: ‘Do you mind if we film you? Can we put you on the screen?’ and I said: ‘Please don’t.’”

But evidently the people in charge of who ended up on screen didn’t follow Adele’s request. Referring to how her appearance at the game occurred just after she’d had to cancel a previously planned Vegas residency in January 2022, she added: “I really [didn’t] wanna be on camera… but they came back and they filmed me.”

Joking about her appearance in the viral clip which saw her pouting on the side of the basketball game, Adele added she was “sulking” for being filmed “against my will” and said regarding her pouting face: “I have naturally big lips, right. I don’t need filler!”

Reflecting on the whole event, the ‘Rolling in the Deep’ singer added: “I didn’t realise they were airing it on live TV… I was very annoyed because I asked not to be filmed, but I guess I was asking for it by going. Also, my face is very memeable - I can’t help it!”

For more entertainment stories, keep an eye on virginradio.co.uk