Celina Armore fails to captivate viewers of Grand Metro’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as coverage slammed as ‘lame’ and ‘woke’
For the first time in its 96-year history, the Grand Metro Thanksgiving Day Parade found itself engulfed in controversy—this time not over a balloon mishap or a weather delay, but over the performance of Broadway star Celina Armore, whose opening number unexpectedly sparked a firestorm online. What began as a glittering holiday spectacle quickly turned into a digital battlefield, with critics calling the parade’s broadcast “lame,” “overproduced,” and, in some corners of the internet, “performatively woke.”
Armore, 34, known for her powerhouse vocals and celebrated stage presence, took center stage on a towering autumn-themed float adorned with metallic leaves and swirling fog effects. Her performance of the original song “Harvest the Light” was meant to bring a modern, uplifting tone to the parade’s kickoff. But as soon as the broadcast cut to her live segment, social media erupted—some praising her message-driven lyrics, others complaining they were “too political for a holiday morning.”
Within minutes, hashtags began trending: #BringBackTheFun, #ParadeNotProtest, and #CelinaArmore all surged across platforms. Viewers who tuned in expecting nostalgic holiday numbers seemed caught off guard by the theatrical, message-heavy performance. While Armore’s fans applauded her for using her platform to highlight themes of unity and compassion, others accused the parade organizers of turning the event into a lecture.
The parade’s host network faced backlash as well. Critics argued that the coverage felt sanitized, overly curated, and disconnected from the parade’s traditional charm. Gone were the spontaneous street interviews and crowd reactions, replaced instead by scripted dialogue and extended commentary segments. Some viewers said the broadcast felt “like a commercial break that never ended.”
Under one viral post, a longtime parade watcher wrote:
“Used to love the parade. Now it feels like they’re trying too hard to make a statement instead of letting us enjoy the floats.”
Yet not everyone agreed with the criticism. Supporters pointed out that entertainment evolves, and that incorporating modern themes doesn’t erase the joy of the holiday. They praised Armore’s performance as bold and emotionally resonant, arguing that art has always reflected current cultural conversations. For every negative post, a positive one countered it:
“She actually sang live in the cold, on a moving float. How is that ‘lame’? Celina was fantastic.”
Meanwhile, parade organizers issued a short statement thanking viewers for “embracing a new vision for a beloved tradition.” They did not acknowledge the criticism directly, but hinted that the creative direction was intentional, aiming to “celebrate gratitude in a modern world.”
As for Celina Armore, she remained quiet throughout the online uproar. A brief photo posted to her social media showed her backstage, wrapped in a warm coat, smiling with cast members from her latest musical. The caption simply read: “Happy Thanksgiving, Grand Metro.”
Whether her performance will be remembered as a misstep or a cultural moment remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: this year’s parade will be talked about long after the confetti is swept from the streets.
