But seriously, what the fuck was Justin Timberlake wearing last night?
Celebrities are larger than life public figures and what they do and say provides the rest of us mortals with an opportunity to discuss what matters to us as a society. This is why we get so invested in their decisions to, say, indulge our concerns with pharmaceutical companies by offering awful natural remedies or make tone-deaf remarks that show how imbalanced the current political landscape is in favor of straight white dudes. These are conversations we want and need to have. The celebrities just give us a focal point to get things moving.
At last night’s Superbowl Halftime Show, Justin Timberlake brought another cultural debate to the table. While not as pressing as those mentioned above, his decision to appear on stage like the haute couture version of a guy drinking beers in the flat bed of a truck parked outside a gun store sparked something in the American consciousness. It asked us, at long last, to consider whether or not anyone should ever wear camo outside of situations that require actual stealth.
The tone of this discussion is, not surprisingly, pretty negative. While the outfit was part of an ongoing, super goofy re-branding meant to showcase Timberlake’s love of nature on new record Man Of The Woods, the pop singer doesn’t exactly come off as the 2018 Thoreau he’s probably aiming for.
The hits came quick, the internet reveling in the particulars of designer clothes seemingly inspired by Bob Ross paintings and a lifelong desire to see a rich, famous man made up to look like a walking deer blind.
The verdict came quickly and, though ol’ JT may not be happy with how his look was received, he has at least done us the important public service of settling the issue of streetwear camo once and for all.