Justin Timberlake Backs Down, Changes His Prince Halftime Show After What Shelia E. Told Him

Posted On : February 4, 2018

While there was much speculation about whether or not Justin Timberlake would bring Janet Jackson or N’Sync on stage during his Super Bowl LII halftime performance, fans were none too happy to learn that he might be planning to use a hologram of Prince as part of the show.

Embed from Getty Images

As we previously reported, Sheila E. was appalled at the idea knowing how the Purple One felt about his image being used this way. She made it crystal clear that Prince would not approve.

“Prince told me don’t ever let anyone do a hologram of me,” Sheila E. wrote in a tweet on Saturday. “Not cool if this happens!”

The legendary percussionist kept her promise to her iconic and reached out to Timberlake. She appealed to his of respect for the fans and shared Prince’s wishes with him. Apparently it worked, because if J.T. was actually going forward with the digitized version, he has now a change of heart. The use of Prince’s hologram ain’t happening. See what Sheila E. has now revealed below..

https://twitter.com/SheilaEdrummer/status/960004762845396993

“Family, I spoke w/Justin 2nite and he shared heartfelt words of respect for Prince & the Purple fans,” Sheila E. tweeted. “I look 4wrd 2 seeing what I’m sure is going 2 be a spectacular halftime show. There is no hologram.”

It is understandable that J.T. would want to celebrate Prince, with Minneapolis being the host city for this year’s final pro football match up. After all, he is in Prince country. But reflecting on some shadier moments between Timberlake and Prince, over his 2006 hit single “Sexy Back,” it’s iteresting that Timberlake would wanna perform on stage with a digitized version of him.

While performing at a post-Emmy Awards party, Prince supposedly said, “For whoever is claiming they are bringing sexy back, sexy never left.” J.T. seemed to clap back on a 2007 Timbaland song called “Give It To Me.”

“We missed you on the charts last week/ Damn, that’s right you wasn’t there/ Now if sexy never left, then why is everybody on my shi-i-it?/ Don’t hate on me just because you didn’t come up with it,” Timberlake sang. Check it out:

Timberlake still got to spend some time enjoying Prince’s legacy. He held his album release party at Prince’s estate Paisley Park last night. Prince fans weren’t feeling this move either, but at least they won’t have to witness a blatant disrespect of Prince’s wishes. Anyway, here’s a sneak peek at what to expect during his performance:

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