Amy Winehouse’s viral hot-mic dig at Justin Timberlake cut from ‘Back to Black’ biopic
Amy Winehouse’s apparent shade at Justin Timberlake during the 2008 Grammy Awards has been left out of “Back to Black,” the new biopic based on the life and career of the late British singer-songwriter.
Winehouse, a massively influential musician who died of alcohol poisoning in 2011 at the age of 27, became an international superstar after the 2006 release of her critically acclaimed sophomore album, “Back to Black.”
Adored by fans for her powerful contralto voice, 1960s-inspired style and trailblazing performances, Winehouse also became known for her wicked sense of humor and unapologetic attitude.
One such moment — which was captured on camera in the early YouTube era but has since become an often-shared meme — shows the “Rehab” singer reacting to a mention of Justin Timberlake during the 2008 awards show.
Winehouse, who was taking part in the L.A. ceremony via satellite from London, scrunches up her face when presenters Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole read the name of Justin Timberlake, a fellow nominee for Record of the Year.
“His album’s called ‘What Goes Around Comes Around?’” she asks her band in apparent disdain, not realizing her microphone was still on.
The moment has been ranked by Dazed as one of the singer’s funniest TV moments, showing “she truly was one of the best to ever do it.”
But according to People, that beloved piece of popular culture history is nowhere to be seen in the biopic, which hit theaters on Friday.
Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, the film reproduces the scene with real Grammys footage of Bennett and Cole, but English actress Marisa Abela, who plays Winehouse, makes no reference to Timberlake.
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