In a crazy clash of classiness and trashiness, popular singer Lizzo played James Madison’s 200- year-old crystal flute at her concert in DC while scantily clad and twerking. 
In typical narcissistic fashion, she tweeted:
“NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD THIS FAMOUS CRYSTAL FLUTE BEFORE
NOW YOU HAVE
IM THE FIRST & ONLY PERSON TO EVER PLAY THIS PRESIDENTIAL 200-YEAR-OLD CRYSTAL FLUTE— THANK YOU @librarycongress 
As referenced in Lizzo’s tweet, the flute is owned by the Library of Congress. Lizzo is mainly known for being a singer and “body positivity” icon, but she has also been a flutist since grade school.
Despite the distasteful display, Lizzo’s actions were largely glorified by the media.
NPR dotingly described Lizzo’s marvelous moment as follows: “Clad in a shimmering bodysuit, she gingerly accepted the instrument and carried it carefully to the standing microphone a few steps away, remarking that ‘it's like playing out of a wine glass, so be patient.’”
Evidently, everything about Lizzo was elegant that night, according to NPR’s pleasant prose: “Lizzo lined up her fingers and played a clear, reverberating note — then widened her eyes and stuck out her tongue in apparent amazement. She played another trill while twerking to the beat, as the audience roared.”
Even reading this is gross.
Of course there were efforts to frame this event through the lens of race. In a tweet with over 17,000 likes, Law Professor Tiffany C. Li glowingly remarked, “Lizzo, a Black female superstar, collaborating with Carla Hayden, the first African American and first woman Librarian of Congress, to use a flute from James Madison, the Founding Father who originated the 3/5 Compromise and also the Library of Congress itself? The symbolism!!!”
Er, if you say so …
Adding to the obscenity, Lizzo exclaimed, “B***h, I just twerked and played James Madison’s crystal flute from the 1800s. We just made history tonight!”
Ideas of history, along with those of beauty and class, just ain’t what they used to be.
