Detroit Lions rookie Aidan Hutchinson delivered such an entertaining rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” that he got his entire team to sing with him — and one teammate even ripped off his shirt, dancing along.
The rookie defensive end’s performance aired Tuesday on the premiere episode of the HBO series “Hard Knocks” — made in partnership with NFL Films — which follows an NFL team through the annual pre-season training camp.
Detroit Lions rookie Aidan Hutchinson hyped up the entire team with his rendition of Billie Jean!
🎥: @AdhamBeydoun
pic.twitter.com/r5EULvvSTN— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 10, 2022
Making the rookies sing in front of their teammates is apparently a rite of passage of sorts on “Hard Knocks” and while some might be embarrassed to be put on the spot in such fashion, Hutchinson appeared to fully embrace the experience. Dancing and strutting back and forth, he sang alone until his teammates eventually began to nod their heads and sing along with him.
People always told me be careful of what you do
And don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts
And mother always told me be careful of who you love
And be careful of what you do ’cause the lie becomes the truth
By the end of the song, the atmosphere was electric — dozens of Hutchinson’s teammates were singing and dancing along to the iconic lyrics: “Billie Jean is not my lover, She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one, But the kid is not my son.”
Hutchinson got the team so wrapped up in the performance that one of his teammates ripped off his shirt, tossing it toward the front of the room. Another teammate quickly snagged the shirt out of the air, and without missing a beat, began waving it like a flag as he continued to sing and dance along.
“Why is no one talking about the best part of this Aidan Hutchinson singing clip?” @FreeMotorcadeee asked in a tweet. “Dude in the 2nd row rips his shirt off, throws it to the front row and the dude in the yellow no look catches it and immediately starts waving it. Most electric moment of the episode.”
Why is no one talking about the best part of this Aidan Hutchinson singing clip? Dude in the 2nd row rips his shirt off, throws it to the front row and the dude in the yellow no look catches it and immediately starts waving it. Most electric moment of the episode. pic.twitter.com/sqAzxxEwkc
— MCS (@FreeMotorcadeee) August 10, 2022
ESPN’s Daniel Dopp raved about the performance as well, saying, “Aidan Hutchinson getting up in front of the team, announcing his signing bonus, messing up Billie Jean, and then nailing it like a boss with the @Lions VIBING the whole time IS WHAT I NEEDED IN MY LIFE. I freaking love this team.”
Aiden Hutchinson getting up in front of the team, announcing his signing bonus, messing up Billie Jean, and then nailing it like a boss with the @Lions VIBING the whole time IS WHAT I NEEDED IN MY LIFE ❤️🕺🏻 I freaking love this team.
— Daniel Dopp (@DanielDopp) August 10, 2022
“This will be the National Anthem of Detroit if Aidan Hutchinson brings a Super Bowl here!” Woodward Sports Network added.