Maxwell is giving Megan Thee Stallion’s knees a run for their talent! The rapper’s name has been trending alongside Maxwell’s after a viral video showed him dropping it a lil’ low.
During a stop on The Night Tour, Maxwell made his legs move in a butterfly motion while turning in a half-circle for a few seconds. Then he returned to delivering his voice for the crowd.
But while the artist may have been rocking a smile, not everyone was feeling his knees. And a tweet calling out the necessity of Maxwell’s motions is what got the video trending.
“Maxwell ain’t got a single song that calls for this,” Twitter user @artfulkash wrote on October 22.
By the following day, others online began sharing edited videos of the moment–even putting Maxwell’s knees alongside Megan’s display.
Lie again… pic.twitter.com/FscpFBt70X
— Mela Yela (@_melayela_) October 23, 2022
Maxwell Reacts To Critics; Wiz Khalifa Steps In
And the comments kept rolling in all weekend with Twitter users shifting between cackling, critiquing, and coming to his defense. Others continued to release mash-up videos of the dance moves.
Get Me Maxwell’d pic.twitter.com/EWdZ005VD1
— 🍯🔑 (@imeverybottom) October 24, 2022
This why I get so irritated with these new artists with no stage presence! Y’all wanna stand in front a mic doing nothing, meanwhile Maxwell gettin his eagle on to “Whenever Whenever Whatever”… https://t.co/25lKjLctOt
— Louis M. Cypher (@lou_m_cypher) October 23, 2022
Not Maxwell got Megan knees 😭 pic.twitter.com/t0rSHn7b4Z
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) October 25, 2022
Why Maxwell can’t just live his best life with his Megan knees in peace? Leave him & Ginuwine alone. 😩🤣
I’m here for people being themselves & enjoying life. Lol 🥰— CrazyVillageWoman💚🦋🎶📚♎♍️ (@gee_facts) October 24, 2022
I saw Maxwell perform and he does have bulletproof knees.
He also has some groovy songs to actually dance to. Just not his singles.
Btw.. this man is an AMAZING performer. You can enjoy even if you only know one song. https://t.co/17lSeweg4a
— Citrus Quench (@LeBarnesJames) October 25, 2022
.@loneamorphous did what needed to be done with this Aaliyah x Maxwell mashup! I be in the city streets feeling it! pic.twitter.com/8SXrY33O3A
— Mela Yela (@_melayela_) October 24, 2022
But by Monday morning, the singer had words for folks who found comedy in his viral knees.
“Y’all wanna laugh but your knees ain’t built like that,” Maxwell tweeted. “This the Maxwell Challenge.”
After Maxwell addressed the chatter, an industry peer chimed in on the singer’s viral moment. Wiz Khalifa wrote, “y’all better leave Maxwell the hell alone.”
Y’all better leave Maxwell the hell alone.
— Wiz Khalifa (@wizkhalifa) October 25, 2022
Knees Or Not, Maxwell Remains A Crowned Legend
Before Maxwell addressed the critics, he shared another clip of a performance in North Little Rock, Arkansas. And the vibe matched that found in his viral knees video! The singer brought Michael Jackson-like energy to the stage in a two-piece, black glittered suit paired with cornrows.
north little rock had me like . . . . pic.twitter.com/lmLGPMMNGZ
— MAXWELL (@_MAXWELL_) October 22, 2022
Jokes aside, the man is truly an industry legend with the awards to match. He’s a three-time Grammy winner who’s received 13 nominations throughout his career. The singer has also earned awards from Billboard, the NAACP, and even the Soul Train Awards. Last year, the Soul Train Awards named him the Legend Award recipient.
“It’s an honor to be presented with the Legend Award by a community that’s been growing with me throughout my career,” he said at the time. “I’m so grateful to be sharing this moment with everyone and returning to the Apollo for an evening of excellence.”