The Kid Laroi took to the stage at the 2024 NRL Grand Final at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Sunday night with an incredible pre-game performance.
However, the Australian rapper, 21, divided viewers when he ended the set with a cover of the 1987 song Never Tear Us Apart by Aussie rock band INXS.
Fans and critics flocked to X—formerly known as Twitter—to share their thoughts, with some saying the musician had ‘balls’ for attempting to cover the iconic hit.
‘Takes some balls to take on INXS classic. The Kid Laroi did ok with it… have heard worse,’ one person wrote.
‘I’ll give Kid Laroi credit he’s got balls to take on an INXS classic!’ another said.
Meanwhile, others fumed over the singer-songwriter daring to touch such a ‘classic’.
‘Ok he just lost me—F**king no butchering of Aussie classics whipper snapper—Kid Laroi. Michael Hutchence [late INXS frontman] is turning in his grave,’ a user said.
‘Thank you Kid Laroi for reminding me why Michael Hutchence is so iconic. Very very hard to do him justice with a version of Never Tear Us Apart,’ another added.
The Kid Laroi took to the stage at the 2024 NRL Grand Final at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Sunday night with an incredible pre-game performance
A third wrote: ‘Should have left INXS off your set list Kid Laroi.’
While some tore down the young Australian artist for his tribute, other fans sung him praises for putting on an ‘epic’ performance.
‘The Kid Laroi Just Knocked It Out The Park At The #NRLGrandFinal,’ one user wrote.
‘IM SO JEALOUSSSS THIS KID LAROI PERFORMANCE IS EPIC,’ another said.
Someone else added: ‘Kid Laroi is extremely talented and I won’t hear otherwise.’
The NRL getting Kid Laroi is so f**king goated,’ wrote one, while someone else said: ‘Okay, take us away Mr The Kid Laroi.’
However, the Australian rapper, 21, divided viewers when he ended the set with a cover of the 1987 song Never Tear Us Apart by Aussie rock band INXS
Moments before the set, viewers at home, who watched the NRL Grand Final between Panthers and Storm on Channel Nine, slammed the artist for being late.
Laroi was scheduled to begin at 6:30pm at the Accor Stadium in Sydney but didn’t take to the stage until shortly after 7:00pm.
‘When does Kid Laroi sing,’ one person said, while another added: ‘Kid Laroi—advertised all week for 6:30pm, will take to the stage closer to 7:05pm.’
‘Wasn’t the entertainment supposed to start at 6:30? Why is Kid Laroi late?’ another wrote.
Someone else joked: ‘So turns out they meant Kid Laroi at 6:30pm South Australia time.’
Fans and critics flocked to X—formerly known as Twitter—to share their thoughts, with some saying the musician had ‘balls’ for attempting to cover the iconic hit
Elsewhere, some viewers had trouble watching Laroi’s performance due to the copious amount of smoke effects used on stage.
‘Can anyone actually see the Kid Laroi with all the fog on the stage?’ someone bemoaned.
Another added: ‘Welcome to the smoke show Kid Laroi can’t even see if you’re in the stadium.’
‘It’s giving fog ft The Kid Laroi,’ one person wrote, while another said: ‘Trying to actually see The Kid Laroi amongst all the white lights and smoke.’
Others compare Laroi’s performance to the $5million set Katy Perry put on for the AFL Grand Final last Saturday.
‘No wonder the AFL spent $5million on Kate Perry. What the hell is a Kid Laroi?’ wrote one.
‘At least Kid Laroi is Australian,’ another added as a third commented: ‘Katy Who… Kid Laroi killing it!’
‘Katy Perry 1; The Kid Laroi 0,’ a viewer scored
Another agreed: ‘So the AFL have Katy Perry as their entertainment and the NRL have The Kid Laroi—figure that one
But someone else said: ‘The Kid Laroi > Katy Perry #sorrynotsorry.’
‘I love the Kid Laroi I’m hyped for this. This is 2000 x better than Katy Perry,’ a fan commented.
The 2024 NRL Grand Final got off to a roaring start on Sunday night as X Factor Australia alum Dami Im impressed viewers with her rendition of the national anthem.
The 35-year-old singer didn’t miss a beat as she soared through a rousing version of the iconic song, leaving those tuning in at home thrilled.
Many shared their thoughts to X, with unanimous praise for the Eurovision star.
‘Dami absolutely smashed that! Goosebumps,’ wrote one person watching the performance.
‘Dami Im always nails an anthem session,’ said another while one more agreed, ‘Dami Im just SMASHED that national anthem!’
‘A brilliant National Anthem performance!’ posted someone else with yet another chiming in, ‘Dami Im doing the national anthem is clutch’.
‘Dami Im with an absolutely stunning national anthem rendition,’ said another impressed fan.
‘Maybe they should have swapped Dani Im and Kid Laroi… she is in very fine voice!’ someone else said, referring to the night’s choice of headliner.
‘Dami doing a nice job of the National Anthem,’ agreed one more person on social media.
More to come.