Pharrell William’s “Happy” was one of the biggest songs of the summer a couple of years ago, and it’s actually a little startling that no one has tackled the track on Lip Sync Battle thus far. Luckily, that’s changing this week with a performance from Marlon Wayans. Unluckily for his lip sync battle partner Queen Latifah, the actor decides to get really creepy and invade her personal space during the interaction. Check out the performance, below.
“Happy” is such a delightful song, it’s hard to believe that anyone could take a rendition of it to an awkward and uncomfortable level, but that’s exactly what happens when Wayans takes the stage. At first he proves he does have some prowess and swag on the dance floor, even donning the ridiculously tall hat Pharrell frequently wears. However, things get weird when he sashays over to the area where Queen Latifah and host LL Cool J are hanging out.
At first, Queen Latifah seems alright with the attention, but as Wayans gets closer and closer the look on her faceless grows a little more disturbed. Seriously, this look is priceless.
She eventually can’t take it anymore, choosing to get up to avoid the man’s attention. Honestly, though, it could have been worse. At least he wasn’t wearing the chaps Stephen Merchant put on during his rendition of “Dirrty.”
Lip Sync Battle has been a huge buzz bringer for Spike in the weeks during it’s release. The show has seen contestants attempt some wild performances so far, including the aforementioned chaps segment, a barely clothed Anne Hathaway performing “Wrecking Ball,” and much, much more. Part of the creepy factor in Wayans' performance might stem from the fact he went a little too far, but part of the problem may simply be the person he was trying to goof around with. Other people have reciprocated more positively when lap dances and more have occurred on the series. If LL Cool J had been the big target, I think this whole goofy performance would’ve gone over a bit better.
Lip Sync Battle has already been renewed for a second season, but there are still plenty of episodes left during Season 1. You can check them out on Thursday nights at 10 p.m. ET. In the meantime, here’s what else is coming up this summer.
