Matthew Morrison is coming under scrutiny after clips of him wearing green face paint, a prosthetic nose, and an unkempt chartreuse pompadour alarmed viewers who were watching NBC’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. According to Entertainment Weekly, Matthew plays The Grinch in an upcoming musical special on NBC, The Grinch Musical!, and his characterization garnered a number of “horrified and/or disgusted responses.” Because as you can see above, we can’t blame the makeup and costume department for ruining Christmas before the Thanksgiving gravy even had a chance to congeal. It’s Matthew Morrison’s choices as a performer that are laying furry green turds in our stockings this year.
EW reports:
Matthew Morrison-as-the Grinch has arrived to steal Christmas… and many viewers’ optimism about NBC’s The Grinch Musical! event.
The network has unveiled our first look at Morrison playing the iconic Dr. Seuss character in the upcoming musical special. A brief preview aired during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, featuring Morrison in full Grinch regalia introducing a musical number from the Troubadour Theatre in London. The song itself, “Who Likes Christmas,” did not feature Morrison, sung instead by the Whos of Whoville, who as we all know like Christmas a lot. (Sample lyrics: “Who likes Christmas? Whos like Christmas!”)
Reaction to the first look on social media was not exactly receptive, with many viewers sharing their horrified and/or disgusted responses on Twitter.
Here’s Matthew looking like he’s trying his best to follow Tyra Banks’ directions as she photographs him for a Christmas themed challenge on America’s Next Top Grinch.
On Wednesday, December 9, we're taking you on a trip to Whoville.
Don't miss the #GrinchMusical starring @Matt_Morrison at 8/7c — only on NBC. pic.twitter.com/jjuXtRe2wZ
— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) November 26, 2020
I’m sorry but the year is 2020 and there’s no excuse for this type of Seussian minstrelsy. Jim Carrey might have gotten away with this 20 years ago, but today I think we can all agree that only grinches should be playing grinches. Other than having been mean to Jonah Hill that one time, Matthew doesn’t have the lived experience necessary to portray The Grinch. And no, just because some of his best friends are grinches, having dated Lea Michele doesn’t mean he gets a free pass. Call me sensitive but that’s just how I feel.
Pic: NBC owns this cursed image