Over the last few days, there has been a lot of back and forth about whether famous singer Jennifer Holliday would be performing at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. After finally confirming this weekend that she would be performing at the ceremony, Holliday announced yesterday that she’d had a change of heart and has now decided to cancel her performance because of the backlash.
As previously reported, Holliday initially defended her decision to perform for Trump’s inauguration, claiming that the hate she was receiving from fans was divisive and that she didn’t see the performance as a tribute to Trump.
“I haven’t even endorsed anything,” she says, “I’m not singing for Donald Trump; I’m singing to welcome the people of America. He cannot be the only face that’s gonna represent us. And just to have all White people up there singing is not going to be a fair representation either. So you’re just saying don’t go? Really? I’m just very disheartened by it that it would be so much hate.”
However, by yesterday afternoon, Holliday had a change of heart and says she decided to cancel the performance after reading an article from the “Daily Beast” titled “Jennifer Holliday Will Perform at Trump’s Inauguration, Which Is Heartbreaking to Gay Fans.” Holliday says that after reading the article she understood how her performance at the inauguration would’ve been a betrayal to her core gay fan base.
“In light of the information pointed out to me via the Daily Beast article on yesterday, my only choice must now be to stand with the LGBT Community and to state unequivocally that I WILL NOT PERFORM FOR THE WELCOME CONCERT OR FOR ANY OF THE INAUGURATION FESTIVITIES!” Holliday wrote in an open letter explaining her decision to cancel the performance.
“I sincerely apologize for my lapse of judgement, for being uneducated on the issues that affect every American at this crucial time in history and for causing such dismay and heartbreak to my fans,” Holliday wrote.
Holliday then, rightfully, explained how the gay community has saved her career and been her core supporters for year and that she understood their pain in the election of Trump to the presidency.
“Please know that I HEAR YOU and I feel your pain. The LGBT Community was mostly responsible for birthing my career and I am deeply indebted to you… You have loved me faithfully and unconditionally and for so many years you provided me with work even though my star had long since faded,” Holliday wrote.
She added, “Thank you for communicating with me, I had no idea that I still meant so much to all of you.”
What do you think of her decision to cancel the performance? Let us know in the comments.
