Chloe Bailey sparked controversy with Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” performance

Chloe Bailey’s performance of “Feeling Good” somehow made some viewers feel.

Half of Chloe x Halle made her solo television debut when she performed a cover of Nina Simone’s 1965 classic in ABC’s June special “Juneteenth: Together We Triumph – A ‘Soul of a Nation’ Special Event” on Friday night. Bailey stunned in a sparkling catsuit as she danced in front of a giant moon during her sexy set that included some provocative moves and even a little twerking.

While it was widely praised by viewers, others questioned the appropriateness of the Juneteenth performance, calling it “oversexualized”.

Following the controversy, Nina Simone’s granddaughter RéAnna Simone Kelly defended Chloe, saying that her late grandmother loved the performance.

“Everyone comes to @ChloeBailey for her performance of my grandmother Nina Simone’s song ‘Feeling Good’,” RéAnna tweeted. “But what you don’t understand is that Grandma was a free-spirited woman herself !! She would have loved this performance as much as I did! Relax. Chloe killed it. “

Chloe’s interpretation of “Feeling Good” can be found on Disney’s Music for the Clockwork Volume III – Liberated EP, along with contributions from Cordae, Common, and Lucky Daye.