To: Most Male Muscians

[mwmisses4289]

Last edited Tue Feb 10, 2026, 03:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Re: Crotch grabbing
Since the 1980's i have noticed many Male Muscians, when performing, grab their crotch. What's that all about? You gotta go pee? Got an itch? Trying to draw your female fans attention to your package? Your pants are falling down? You trying to masturbate on stage? You don't need to draw attention to your crotch, we know it's there. Your performances would be much better if your hands stayed away from that area.

Guess I'm just an old fuddy duddy, but save that gesture for when you are behind closed doors with your intimate partner or in a medical setting and need to show a doc a medical related issue.

[leftstreet]

1. LOL It seems really retro

Didn't Michael Jackson start the trend like shortly after the Civil War?

[TheProle]

2. Don't forget the ladies!

In 1991 Transvision Vamp's Wendy James forced mums everywhere to cover their children's (and husbands') eyes when she tried a spot of short-skirted crotch-grabbing on kids' show Going Live – after which Sarah Greene took in her outfit and delivered an arch, "It's handy that your knickers match."

In the following two decades singers including Lady Gaga, Jessie J, Beyonce, Tulisa and Christina Aguilera, along with more 'wholesome' stars such as Billie Piper and Katy Perry, have all been caught crotch-handed.

Meanwhile, Rihanna – first in line for the throne when Madonna steps down as Queen of Pop – seems happy to audition for every aspect of the role (Need evidence? Try searching in Google Image for 'Rihanna crotch grab.' NSFW.)

I'm not against a woman's right to do whatever she chooses with her body, even if it makes me want to hand her a tube of Canestan to sort out what looks like a really nasty itch.

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a22309/daily-fail-female-stars-crotch-grabbing/

[mwmisses4289]

8. That last paragraph made me lol!

[ProfessorGAC]

3. I'm A Male Musician

Never did a crotch grab; never will.
I agree that it's ridiculous.

[MineralMan]

10. Me neither.

The oboe requires both hands at all times to play anything.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Beauty! So Do Guitar & Piano!

But, I fronted the band on a few songs over the years yet I never felt the urge to grab my junk.
Wonder why. Maybe because it's a disgusting move?

[MineralMan]

24. Well. I was taught at an early age

that handling my junk should only be done in privacy.

I did play tenor sax and was lead singer in a garage band in the early 60s. I never did any junk grabbing in that role. We played a lot of school dances, but after a multi verse playing of Louie, Louie at a post game dance, we were black-listed. A pity.

[DET]

4. This is a pet peeve of mine

Same with twerking. I just find it so unnecessary and offensive.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. twerking is simply a style of dancing with a specific history

[Tumbulu]

26. So what? It is still weird and in the same style as crotch grabbing

Both of which strike me as something whose expiration date has long passed.

[spooky3]

14. Agree, especially if only female twerkers are wearing little. But

everything else about the halftime show was fabulous.

[LAS14]

25. So THAT's what those dancers at half time were doing!!!! Thx. nt

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. Jay-Z had an answer for Terry Gross on Fresh Air:

https://www.npr.org/2010/11/16/131334322/the-fresh-air-interview-jay-z-decoded

"In hip-hop, the music leads first. So usually, you have a hit record and then [the record executives] throw this person on stage who has never been on stage before. So they don't have any experience on how to perform in front of people, hold the mic — all these different things you need to know as a performer. So you get up there, you feel naked. So when you feel naked, what's the first thing you do? You cover yourself. So that bravado is an act of, 'I am so nervous right now. I am scared to death. I'm going to act so tough that I am going to hide it, and I have to grab my crotch.' That's just what happens."

[senseandsensibility]

7. Very revealing answer

It does seem to come from a place of insecurity.

[MineralMan]

9. LOL!

[mwmisses4289]

11. It was the one thing that really annoyed me during Bad Bunnys' otherwise stellar performance.

One I might have been willing to overlook. And it probably wasn't as much as it seemed to me, but it seemed like every verse of his songs was an excuse to crotch grab.

[Coventina]

12. The first artist I ever saw do that was Michael Jackson

I remember it was in the "Bad" video.

I recall at the time how the critics fell over themselves in praising "Bad" (the album, not just the song) as MJ showing "maturity" and "machismo" and being a "commanding presence."

Madonna was photographed shortly afterwards doing the same thing and was vilified for being "lewd" "shameless" etc.

I'm not necessarily in favor of public crotch grabs, but there certainly does seem to be double standard with critics.

[Fiendish Thingy]

13. Most male *musicians* cannot grab their crotches

Because musicians are busy playing their instruments.

You must be thinking of male singers.

P.S. have you ever watched Madonna sing? Or Tate McRae, Cardi B, or Sabrina Carpenter?

P.P.S. Yes, you are likely a fuddy duddy, although I agree all the stagecraft and gyrations tend to distract from the music, which may be the reason (with a few exceptions).

[mwmisses4289]

17. I probably more correctly should have said male music performers.

However, I do consider most singers to be muscians, as their voice is their instrument.

[OC375]

15. Robert Plant was rockin' the crotch grab with Zeppelin in the 70's

I love the 80's, but don't sell the 70's short either.

[mwmisses4289]

19. I became more aware of it in 1980's, I was still pretty young in the 1970s.

[milestogo]

16. I can't imagine the Beatles or the Rolling Stones grabbing their crotches

and it doesn't get any sexier than Mick.

When I see a crotch grabber I just want to say: "You can get medication so that doesn't hurt/itch so much."

[WhiskeyGrinder]

22. Yes, Mick Jagger was way too classy for something like that

[2naSalit]

18. I never cared for it...

And find it offensive no matter who does it. I tend to like the artist less after seeing them do it. For me it changes the song as well.

[ruet]

20. Dumb Rage-Bait.

'Madonna, Michael Jackson, I'm sorry. I did it first': In 1982 Carole Pope pioneered the crotch grab

It was 1982 and the JUNO producers were concerned. Led by singer Carole Pope, the underground band Rough Trade — notorious for their blend of punk, R&B and musical theatre laced with satire and sexuality — were set to perform...and hopefully follow the rules.

Rough Trade co-founder Kevan Staples reflects: "So here we are on the JUNOs. We don't have a record contract. We're gonna be seen by all of Canada. We did the rehearsal in the afternoon and they were very specific about Carole not grabbing her crotch during the 'cream my jeans' line."

But how can you expect a provocative band to not provoke? Pope says: "What they were gonna try and censor was me grabbing my crotch, which I didn't do in rehearsal — and then I did on live TV."

While crotch grabbing onstage was set to become a thing in pop, with Michael Jackson and Madonna later making it famous, Pope is proud to have shocked first. "I grabbed my crotch, which I claim as mine. Madonna, sorry, Michael Jackson, I'm sorry. I did it first."

[EuterpeThelo]

21. Just wear a codpiece!

Ozzy Osbourne and Blackie Lawless come to mind. And, for the record, I am NEVER gonna complain about Robert Plant doing just about anything!