Prince fans go crazy over rumor of Super Bowl hologram
The late Minneapolis musician's image was still part of Justin Timberlake's halftime show, but not in hologram form despite earlier reports.
![Super Bowl XLI Half-Time Press Conference Featuring Prince](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/965340c4468b5276775ebc3a07ef477eae3b850b/hub/2018/02/04/476c9444-abe0-4c82-b905-90d5a8592368/gettyimages-73173880.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=675&width=1200)
Late musician Prince, seen here during the Super Bowl 2007 halftime press conference in Miami, appeared during Sunday's halftime show, but not as a hologram.
Late musician Prince, who died in 2016, has been remembered in many events this week as his home state of Minnesota prepared to host Super Bowl LII Sunday. But a rumor that he'd be resurrected as a hologram during Justin Timberlake's halftime show was not a welcome report for many fans and friends.
The hologram idea received negative online publicity. Instead, Timberlake ended up showing video of Prince while playing the piano and performing the Minneapolis musician's "I Would Die 4 U," as if the two were singing a duet.
That wasn't incredibly well-received by all fans, but at least it wasn't Timberlake's reported original plan.
TMZ reported on Saturday that "Justin does have one pretty cool trick up his sleeve -- a hologram to honor ... wait for it ... Prince, in his hometown."
Not everyone thought that was a "pretty cool trick."
Musician Sheila E., who worked closely with Prince in the 1980s, tweeted that Prince would never have approved of his image being recreated as a hologram.
Prince told me don’t ever let anyone do a hologram of me. Not cool if this happens! https://t.co/khtCjXr2mY
— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) February 3, 2018
Many outlets pointed to a 1998 interview Prince did with Guitar World magazine. When asked if he would ever want to participate in digital editing allowing him to "jam with any artist from the past," the Purple One made himself as clear as a Minnesota icicle.
"Certainly not," Prince is quoted as saying. "That's the most demonic thing imaginable. Everything is as it is, and it should be. If I was meant to jam with Duke Ellington, we would have lived in the same age."
But before Saturday was over, Sheila E. was reporting that she'd spoken to Timberlake, and no hologram was planned.
Family, I spoke w/Justin 2nite and he shared heartfelt words of respect for Prince & the Purple fans. I look 4wrd 2 seeing what I’m sure is going 2 be a spectacular halftime show. There is no hologram. 🙏🏽💋 pic.twitter.com/mhVXBfBa1B
— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) February 4, 2018
Fans seemed relieved.
Oh, he listened to Sheila. https://t.co/I9rIs6VRak
— Tessa Sainz (@tessasainz) February 4, 2018
I didn't think so.... He loves Prince and has way to much respect for the purple family to do something like that thanks for clearing it up Sheila
— Jennifer Rose Silva (@silva_jencries) February 4, 2018
I hope they leave Prince out of this...💜 💔❤️ pic.twitter.com/wPUeemodUG
— 🎵Dino🎭 (@DinoBozzoJr) February 4, 2018
Good stuff I still ain't got no love for dude but glad he's not going to do the hologram
— Tineka Moody (@BlacqReign) February 4, 2018
— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) February 4, 2018
When fam follows up so you can sleep at night 🙌🏾💜 @SheilaEdrummer - Thank you for checking on that, cause I was heated. pic.twitter.com/AJi4h4qadu
— Tia (@team_everybody) February 4, 2018
Prince, of course, rocked the Super Bowl in the pouring (purple) rain in 2007, in a performance that's still talked about today.
Janet Jackson herself tweeted that she would not be performing with Timberlake in a reunion of that notorious 2004 pairing.
— Janet Jackson (@JanetJackson) February 4, 2018
In a safer homage, 100 purple-hatted dancers participated in a flash mob dance to Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" in St. Paul's Rice Park on Saturday. Punch a higher floor.
Update, 5:30 p.m. PT: Added Timberlake's use of Prince video during the halftime show.