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ON-SCREEN NUDITY

Too Much Nudity at the Grammys?

Stars defied explicitly-worded memo from CBS

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t

Image: Politix

Five days ago CBS got a lot of attention for a "grotesquely-worded" email sent out to all Grammy attendees. The "network standards and practices" memo (quoted here) seems a rather hopeless attempt to rein in an event that everyone knows is going to be a sheer-dress-fest. And as it turned out, the memo was honored more in the breach than the observance by the red-carpet talent.

Gawker has identified some of the most high-profile culprits, using the language from the CBS memo. They call out Katy Perry for exposing "bare sides or under curvature of the breasts," Rihanna for her "sheer see-through clothing that could possibly expose female breast nipples," and Ashanti for multiple infractions: "thong type costumes," "bare fleshy under curves of the buttocks and buttock crack," "bare sides or under curvature of the breasts," and exposure of "'puffy' bare skin" in "the genital region." None of their outfits seems particularly outrageous for an award-ceremony dress, but we'll leave you to judge from the picture above.

The CBS memo seems so likely to be ignored by Grammy attendees, in fact, that perhaps it was designed to achieve publicity for the network rather than demure evening wear from the stars.

Posted 6:30pm PST.

Via Gawker and the Atlantic Wire.
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Did you think too much flesh was on display at the Grammys?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • u
    fridayjones
    !
    Many artists and musicians are testing the edge and that is part of the talent. To try to make them have to confine themeslves to prudish standards. is ludicris. cbs is rapidly loosing my respect! Bunch of anal prudes! WAY TOO CONSEVITIVE for me........the powers that think they need to monitor the way women dress need to self deport to the middle east where women are more complient!
  • u
    cpeter133
    !
    @fridayjones Talent is singing or dancing or writing music or lyrics. Showing your ta-ta's is why so few truly talented performers are left who have real talent--who needs talent when you can titilate like a stripper?

    I'm no prude, but it's ridiculous or ludicrOUs. Te event is held by CBS--in the verncular, these people are in CBS's house, and they are dissing the network. Screw'em if they can't be professional or act at least like an adult. Their careers will only last as long as their breasts stay perky.
  • View all 7 replies >
  • DARSB
    !
    I haven't watched the Grammys since Bruce Hornsby won the Bluegrass Grammy for a tune featuring a piano.

    But I fell in love with one phrase in the CBS dress code, "fleshy undercurve." I have no idea what that means but I'm sure someone somewhere will make a rule against it.
  • DARSB
    !
    @Medicinebow I am reminded of an interview Gene Roddenberry did years ago. The network had this arcane dress code for the female aliens in Star Trek that allowed exposure of the breast all the way down to the aureole, but never the underside (fleshy undercurve?) of the breast. Roddenberry thought it was because network censors thought maybe moss grew down there.
  • Thunderchicken
    !
    As I was showering I did remember watching a Grammy show once. Paul McCartney got static for wearing tennies on stage. The popular black ones with the three white stripes on the side. Now that's gonna bug me till I remember what brand they were.
  • AlexMIA
    !
    If we have leaders that can be influenced by these people, we should get rid of them. They are unfortunately used by our leaders to influence weaker followers, and unfortunately we can't get rid of those. Personally, the only thing I'd take away from them is the curviture of their body's, so as long as they keep their mouth shut on matters outside their job decription let them dress on.
  • jessejaymes
    !
    You know this is one of those areas where we don't need a rule one. If the Grammys want to make them wear burka's or allow them to parade naked on their show I do believe most of America has a remote do they not?
  • jessejaymes
    !
    amazing. Nipples NTBFT and I agree on. There is not nudity there? Lot of cleavage but nipples were covered if barely. Or maybe I missed them. Anyone have a link? Seriously, I would rather listen to Adele sing and not have to look at her and look at Britney and not have to hear her sing. It is what it is. Singers and hotties. Sometimes both. But it's their bodies. Are we going to legislate dresses now?
  • o
    NTBFW
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    @jessejaymes I have seen a lot of things that can hurt you. I can't imagine getting hurt with a nipple. A boob with out a nipple is pointless.
  • Denizen_Kate
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    @jessejaymes - She wasn't frumpy last year. (Yes, sometimes I watch award shows . . . there are few guilty pleasures left to me.)
  • jessejaymes
    !
    I'm just dumbfounded here. If there is "too much skin" for your taste change the channel? This is not some person parading nude through the mall. This is a choice thing. Those who make money from the Grammy's will decide what they will allow based on MONEY. And Mary come on dear lady. "I have mixed feelings" is not something anyone has about this. It's either yes it's too much or it's just right or it's not enough. That's the only three choices and I'm voting not enough. If those women want to flaunt it then I don't care if they do.(I didn't watch anyhow. Why wade your way through all the nonsense when the photos are right there everywhere you turn online?)
  • jessejaymes
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    @Rocker I mean really, Kim Khardashian unleashed that entire bunch on America via a sex tape with a rapper. And we're worried about cleavage at the Grammy's? What's wrong with this picture?
  • Rocker
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    @jessejaymes - well, sex is one thing altogether different. Besides, I don't much care for the people like Kimbo who hasn't really done anything except famous for being famous.
    If you were to ask 'what's wrong with this picture' of Katy, I'd have to say: "absolutely nothing that I can (or can't) see".
  • jessejaymes
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    @Rocker And that's my point. Why are people getting "scandalized" by what you think you almost see while tuning in America's tramps on the other channel? Jeez what a disgusting family.
  • View all 18 replies >
  • Calfkiller
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    ??? I'm not a fan of that garbage to begin with, but I remember someone a year or so ago that had worn a two inch wide strap of fabric that just covered the "no show" spots. Don't remember, don't care who it was. I didn't see anything worse than a wedding dress this year.
  • Denizen_Kate
    !
    Then why did you post a comment? Just so you could lord it over us peasants who occasionally watch television? Feeling superior, aren't you? Perhaps you should climb down off that high horse before you get a nose bleed. ;)
  • View all 9 replies >
  • Dan_Tien
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    If they really didn't want scantily clad women to appear at the Grimmy Awards then they wouldn't invite the ones they expect to show up scantily clad, would they? I think that this is just a promotion for next year's show.
  • Fishbone345
    !
    Maybe we've become desensitized as a nation, but the three "bad examples" they have up there, to me just don't seem all that racy. I've seen a lot racier on TV ads.
  • u
    BelinKS
    !
    We all know the entertainers with great bodies like to show them off at the Grammies. My only problem with that is that I have a 7 year old little girl who would like to watch the Grammies. She loves music! All kinds! This year she wanted to see the young female singers that she loves and wanted to see her new discovery of the group Fun. and if they would win. I do teach her modesty and what should always be covered. Last summer we went through three bikinis and 2 one piece swimsuits because she grew all summer and my rule of what had to stay covered. I don't want her to watch these women dress so scantily and think that maybe mom is wrong. At beyonce's half time performance at the Super Bowl I had to explain to her that the costume she was wearing had flesh colored fabric. That it was not the performers skin that was actually showing. No can do for the Grammies. I do not want her ever to be ashamed of her body, but I do have rules as to what has to be covered. My mother did the same with me. I wore a lot of short spandex shorts under mini skirts and dresses. She always has shorts on under dresses because of playing. I love the ones that come with shorts already attached!
  • u
    Chromalord
    !
    Might as well be some flesh, certainly isn't any music of value ( except I heard the jazz segment was pretty cool). BTW, who won best Polka album and best new Gangsta' Wannabe awards?
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