Instagram/@lancebass
Lance Bass, an ex-NSYNC member and one of the never-ending fun makers, has recently taken to social media to express his overwhelming admiration for the Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth. The musician and producer got direct and personal, stating that Chenoweth had left him “BLOWN AWAY” and shared his himself with the pictures, probably from a backstage meeting. Although many fans celebrated the interaction between the stars, there were some who doubted Bass’s support owing to Chenoweth’s recent politically controversial statements.
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The various photos portraying Bass and Chenoweth together were part of the post, and many fans were making guesses that the pictures were taken in a theater. One particular shot drew a lot of interest where Bass appeared either to be lifted or in a dramatic pose and a number of the commenters found it funny and amusing.
The variety of responses to the post revealed a split among the followers. Many were very happy about the uniting of two legends of the entertainment industry. “I LOVE THE FIRST PHOTO, VERY FUNNY,” was one comment from a user who was among many others that found the lively picture very amusing. Another fan remarked, “Lance was a fairy for a sec,” playing off the magical quality that was present in the photos.
The cheerful reaction was not only about the visual humor. Lots of fans seized the opportunity to compliment the excellence of Chenoweth in the theater world. “She’s the broadway goat of our generation!” one user shouted while another just said, “She IS Broadway.” A couple of fans even said they hoped this encounter was the beginning of collaborations and one of them wrote, “Ooh, please tell me she recruited you for an episode of Stumble,” referring to Chenoweth’s podcast.
On the contrary, the tone of celebration was considerably muted by very strong criticism leveled at Chenoweth. Quite a number of people brought up her recent comments about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk as a reason to question Bass’s public support. “How can we support somebody like this after her comment she made about Charlie Kirk?” one user asked, reflecting the opinions of many others who had been commenting.
The disapproval became more pronounced with some people. “You can take as many pics with the guys as you want. I used to love you. You are dead to me now,” one user who claimed to be a former fan expressed his criticism, showing how profound the disappointment of some was about the association. Another comment went back to the past and said, “Kristen who???? After her comments about that man, she’s a has been. Most of our community is turning its back to her. Good riddance!!”
This division of viewpoints reflects the ongoing dilemma faced by public figures when it comes to political and social disputes with their fanbase. A considerable number of the followers merely took pleasure in the interaction between the stars, while others saw Bass’s cheerful post as a backing of Chenoweth’s political statements, hence a contention was created in the comments section.
Despite the criticism, several fans decided to emphasize the positive aspects of the meeting. Some of the comments made praised Bass’s clothing choice in the pictures, to which one user replied, “Love the fit, too!” Others just generally said that they loved both artists, and one person said, “I love our queen and I love you!!!” which is loud enough to be heard over the political debates.
The mixed reaction to Bass’s post reflects a situation where the audience interprets celebrity interactions through political perspectives. Though many fans can separate between entertainment and politics, for others, it becomes a matter of support when celebrities engage with controversial figures. This results in a rather complex relationship for public personalities as to which public relationships to promote and how to satisfy the different fan bases.
Meanwhile, Bass opted to focus on Chenoweth’s artistic legacy rather than engaging in political discussions through his post or the subsequent discussion. His brief and ecstatic comment was what kept the emphasis on her professional achievements and their personal interaction, and the pictures were there to back up the view, while the comment section mirrored the larger conversations that were taking place among their followers.
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This incident serves as yet another example of how the powers and professional admiration of celebrities interact in the increasingly polarized cultural landscape where every public connection brings along implications for the people involved that are not just personal but also transcend the relationship entailed. Bass recently participated in a boy band bake-off, and he also declared the return of his annual Halloween tradition. Additionally, he recently hosted a producer night for a rock musical and hosted a star-studded dinner party. Meanwhile, Chenoweth recently celebrated a milestone with her camp.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
