Tennessee born Jessie Murph probably expected her big “Tonight Show” debut to spark conversation. But maybe not this kind. The 20-year-old Nashville-born singer-songwriter performed her song “1965” from her album Sex Hysteria, and let’s just say the internet did not take it lightly.
Dressed in a vintage-inspired lace top, pink ruffled skirt, and tights that screamed “coquette-core,” Jessie Murph set the mood with dramatic flair on stage. But it wasn’t the outfit or the aesthetic that got people talking. It was the line, “I think I’d give up a few rights if you would just love me like it’s 1965.”
Needless to say, the young Tennessee-born singer may have gotten more backlash than she bargained for across social media. The performance clip posted by Pop Crave racked up over 23 million views and ignited a flood of viral tweets. Some viewers were left scratching their heads, while others dove straight into full outrage mode.
One user didn’t mince words, calling it “insane” to drop that lyric in an era where women’s rights are literally being rolled back. Another pointed out that even if the song is meant to be satirical, it still comes off as tone-deaf. There’s satire and then there’s casually tossing around the idea of giving up rights like it’s just another verse in a breakup ballad, according to Buzzfeed.
And just when you thought the backlash couldn’t get more tangled. Fans dragged Sabrina Carpenter into the mess. They questioned how she caught heat for her album cover while Murph was out here romanticizing the 1960s. (Because nothing says love like a time when women needed their husband’s signature to open a bank account.)
Jessie Murph’s Lyrics Misunderstood Commentary or Rage Bait
As more people dissected the full lyrics, references to 20-year-olds dating 40-year-olds and Snapchat-era woes, the reaction got even messier. While some defended it as social commentary, some said it read more like an SNL sketch gone off the rails. However, others deemed it rage bait.
At this point, Jessie Murph’s “Tonight Show” moment is less a breakout performance and more a cautionary tale about reading the room. Or at least the decade. However, Murph was not the only one taking a hit. Talk show host Jimmy Fallon also landed in the line of fire.
One fan scolded, “Jimmy what is this? With everything going on in our country, do you really think this performance is appropriate?”
So, was singer Jessie Murph aiming for edgy satire and just missed the mark? Or did she genuinely think the “good ol’ days” of 1965 were peak romance material? Either way, the internet’s made up its mind. And if “giving up rights” for love was meant to be ironic or even a rage bait attention getter. Then, social media believes this young woman may want to look into getting a better PR team.
Nina Franklin 
Sabrina Russell 
Kenna Raye 
