Tinashe scored a lead-role in Rent Live which premiered on Sunday. While her performance is being held as outstanding by many critics, some publications, along with social media haters, offered an opposing view. The production earned the lowest ratings for a musical while still attracting the most viewers from its key demographic for the night.
Variety reported the numbers:
In the overnight ratings, “Rent” averaged a 1.4 rating in adults 18-49 and 3.4 million viewers. That is below previous last place holder, “A Christmas Story Live,” which drew a 1.5 rating and 4.5 million viewers for Fox in December 2017. It is also a far cry from the highest-rated live broadcast musical to date, NBC’s 2013 version of “Sound of Music.” That show drew a 4.6 rating and 18.6 million viewers.
Although the show features a big cast of stars including Vanessa Hudgens and Mario, naysayers are focused on Tinashe, claiming that she is to blame for the apparent “failure.” In response, fans and fellow entertainers have come through in her defense. View their reactions after the jump.
One social media user pointed out that many reviews of the show included praise for the singer, generating many favorable headlines highlighting her stage-presence and skills as a triple-threat. According to their post, it seems like “white media” digs Tinashe while “Black media” are taking digs at her. This perspective is upsetting yet in line with the unfortunate plight Tinashe has endured as a mixed-race artist. The issues she encountered with her former label included what could be categorized as the mismanagement of her image. Higherups weren’t sure whether they should push the singer towards an “urban” audience or promote a “pop” appeal.
White media publications: “Tinashe was fantastic”
Black media publications: “Rent ratings were low because of Tinashe”
Something is wrong here. pic.twitter.com/ZgxI5SVqAd
— LuxxReIoaded (@LUXXreIoaded) January 29, 2019
Kehlani, who has been on a high since her baby shower, took time to address the negativity as well. “usually eat my food and stay to myself about shit but… cut this mean shit out with Tinashe,” she tweeted. “girl works her ass off, is talented as hell and is a fuckin sweetheart. the obsession with bullying artists in the same way on some mass bandwagon shit is ugly. shorty is raw. bye”
usually eat my food and stay to myself about shit but… cut this mean shit out with Tinashe. girl works her ass off, is talented as hell and is a fuckin sweet heart. the obsession with bullying artists in the same way on some mass bandwagon shit is ugly. shorty is raw. bye
— Kehlani (@Kehlani) January 29, 2019
Tinashe deserved more than we gave her. Y’all don’t have taste.
— Phillip Henry (@MajorPhilebrity) January 28, 2019
'Rent' Starring Tinashe Tallies Lowest Ratings Ever for Live Musical https://t.co/XPuQmJxnUA pic.twitter.com/byLjI5JWhk
— ThatGrapeJuice (Sam) (@thatgrapejuice) January 28, 2019
Tinashe is super talented. She can produce, sing and dance her ass off. Her previous mixtape, “Black Water” is still IT and “Aquarius” slaps. I just feel like she didn’t get the best exposure on her old label and they mismanaged her talent/creative direction.
— Wanna. (@WannasWorld) January 29, 2019
It's one thing to not like Tinashe or to not be a fan, but the way she gets disrespected is honestly bizarre and I will never understand it. https://t.co/LqbulK5ZVR
— albertito (@albertoutspoken) January 28, 2019
