The Kid Laroi struck ahead of NRL Grand Final performance as the cover of the iconic INXS hit went down like a lead balloon – with viewers furious that the pop star started his set 30 minutes late: ‘Do they have pregame entertainment bought from Temu?’
The Kid Laroi took to the stage at the 2024 NRL Grand Final at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Sunday night with an incredible pre-game performance.
However, the Australian rapper, 21, divided viewers when he closed the set with a cover of Australian rock band INXS’s 1987 song Never Tear Us Apart.
Fans and critics flocked to X – formerly known as Twitter – to share their thoughts, with some saying the musician had ‘balls’ to attempt to cover the iconic hit.
‘It takes some balls to tackle the INXS classic. The Kid Laroi was fine with it…I’ve heard worse,” one person wrote.
“I give Kid Laroi credit for having the balls to tackle an INXS classic!” said another.
Meanwhile, others were upset about the singer-songwriter daring to touch such an iconic tune.
“Okay, he just lost me – no slaughter of Australian classics Whipper Snapper Kid Laroi. Michael Hutchence [late INXS frontman] turning in his grave,” said one user.
“Thank you Kid Laroi for reminding me why Michael Hutchence is so iconic. Very hard to do him justice with a version of Never Tear Us Apart,” another added.
The Kid Laroi (pictured) took to the stage at the 2024 NRL Grand Final at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Sunday night with an incredible pre-game performance
A third wrote: ‘I should have left INXS off your setlist Kid Laroi.’
‘Never a fan of Michael Hutchence but I wished he would rise from the grave… Complete nonsense! P*ss bad lip sync,” another person raged.
Someone else joked: ‘Never Tear Us Apart performed by The Kid Laroi with auto tune… exactly how INXS imagined it would be performed when they released it.’
“Kid Laroi is definitely not Michael Hutchence,” someone else posted.
While some slammed the young Australian artist for his tribute, other fans sang his praises for putting on an ‘epic’ performance.
However, the Australian rapper, 21, divided viewers when he closed the set with a cover of Australian rock band INXS’s 1987 song Never Tear Us Apart.
“The Kid Laroi just knocked it out of the park at the #NRLGrandFinal,” one excited user wrote.
“I AM SO JEALOUSSS THIS KID LAROI PERFORMANCE IS EPIC,” said another.
One admirer stood up for the singer, writing, “Kid Laroi is extremely talented and I don’t hear anything different.”
“The NRL getting Kid Laroi is so bloody stupid,” one wrote, while someone else said: “Okay, take us Mr The Kid Laroi.”
Moments before the set, viewers at home watching the NRL Grand Final between Panthers and Storm on Channel Nine slammed the artist for being late.
Fans and critics flocked to X – formerly known as Twitter – to share their thoughts, with some saying the musician had ‘balls’ to attempt to cover the iconic hit
Laroi was scheduled to start at Sydney’s Accor Stadium at 6:30 PM but did not take the stage until shortly after 7:00 PM.
Pre-event programs listed Laroi’s start time half an hour before he actually appeared – but it is unclear if this was always the plan.
“When is Kid Laroi singing,” one person said, while another added, “Kid Laroi – advertised all week at 6:30 p.m., will take the stage around 7:05 p.m.”
‘Shouldn’t the entertainment start at half past six? Why is Kid Laroi late?’ another wrote.
Someone else joked: “So it turns out they meant Kid Laroi at 6.30pm South Australian time.”
“Kid Laroi is definitely not Michael Hutchence,” one person posted
Another said: ‘Michael Hutchence is turning in his grave’
Elsewhere, some viewers had difficulty watching Laroi’s performance due to the large amount of smoke effects used on stage.
“Can anyone actually see the Kid Laroi with all that fog on stage?” someone complained.
Another said: ‘Welcome to the smoke show. Kid Laroi can’t even tell if you’re in the stadium.’
“The Kid Laroi is foggy,” one wrote, while another said, “I’m actually trying to see The Kid Laroi among all the white lights and smoke.”
Others are comparing Laroi’s performance to the $5 million set Katy Perry put on for the AFL Grand Final last Saturday.
Many viewers were unimpressed with the NRL’s choice of headliner
“No wonder the AFL spent $5 million on Katy Perry. What the hell is a Kid Laroi?’ wrote a viewer on X
“No wonder the AFL spent $5 million on Katy Perry. What the hell is a Kid Laroi?’ wrote one.
“At least Kid Laroi is Australian,” another added, while a third commented: “Katy Who…Kid Laroi is killing it!”
‘Katy Perry 1; The Kid Laroi 0’, one viewer scored
Another agreed: ‘So the AFL has Katy Perry for entertainment and the NRL has The Kid Laroi – think about that.’
But someone else said: ‘The Kid Laroi > Katy Perry #sorrynotsorry.’
“I love the Kid Laroi, I’m hyped for this. This is 2000 times better than Katy Perry,” said one fan.
Several people pointed out that the singer was difficult to see because of the special smoke effects
“Can anyone actually see the Kid Laroi with all that fog on stage?” someone complained
Others were generally unenthusiastic about the pop star.
‘Wow. The Kid Laroi is simple. No one else could have made it tonight?’ one asked, while the other said, “Boy Laroi is so bad.”
“I would be super angry if I spent money to go to the grand final and had to sit through a Kd Laroi set,” someone else posted.
“Kid Laroi wtf huge L,” one viewer complained, while another said, “Who or what is The Kid Laroi? I’ve honestly never heard of him.”
“Why does the NRL always cut corners and buy pregame entertainment from Temu,” snapped another.
There were also complaints that the star did not start his set at the expected time of 6.30pm
“Why does the NRL always cut corners and buy pregame entertainment from Temu,” someone snapped
‘I can’t wait for that lad Laroi to come’ – Not an NRL fan. Someone else came in once.
Better was X Factor Australia alum Dami Im, who impressed viewers with her rendition of the national anthem.
The 35-year-old singer didn’t miss a beat as she soared through an uplifting version of the iconic song, leaving those tuning in at home thrilled.
Many shared their thoughts with X, with unanimous praise for the Eurovision star.
“Dami absolutely crushed that!” Goosebumps,” wrote someone who watched the performance.
Despite the naysayers, the Australian hitmaker had many fans who loved his performance
“I love the Kid Laroi, I’m hyped for this. This is 2000 times better than Katy Perry,” said one fan
“Dami, I always have an anthem session,” said another, while another agreed, “Dami, I just smashed that anthem!”
‘A wonderful performance of the National Anthem!’ someone else posted with yet another sound: ‘Dami I’m doing the national anthem is clutch’.
“Dami Im with an absolutely stunning rendition of the national anthem,” said another impressed fan.
“Maybe they should have switched Dani Im and Kid Laroi… she has a really good voice!” said another, referring to the choice of the evening’s headliner.
“Dami does the national anthem well,” another person agreed on social media.
Better was X Factor Australia alumnus Dami Im (pictured), who impressed viewers with her rendition of the national anthem
