Nellie is speaking out against critics who have criticized her performance at tomorrow’s Liberty Inaugural Ball, one of three official balls celebrating Donald Trump’s return as president.
As we reported here, the St. Louis rapper becomes the second performer to cause controversy by accepting to perform at a function, days after Carrie Underwood was criticized for the same thing.
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The “Dilemma” hitmaker addressed the appearance in an interview with Willie D. Live, downplaying the political implications of the performance and saying he was simply honoring the moment by attending the event. said.
“I’m wearing it for my city and trying to lift my city up every step of the way, so I thought you’d be along for the ride with me. Along with whoever you voted for. I didn’t know you were riding with me because I thought I was going to ride. I didn’t know that,” he said. “I didn’t know that I had to agree with your political choices, and I thought it’s what you do, not what you say you should do. If you follow my approach, this is It shouldn’t even be a debate. He’s the president. This isn’t a campaign or an RNC. I’m not in a political movement.”
He further likened the performance to the same sense of civic duty that American military personnel feel to protect their country. “I’m not doing it for the money, I’m doing it because it’s an honor. I respect the office. It doesn’t matter who takes office,” he said. “Just as our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country, have to go to war, we have to risk our lives for those who are in power. If they can put their lives on the line no matter who is in power, I will definitely be able to perform.”
Willie D criticized his performance at the inauguration, suggesting it could be seen as an endorsement of Donald Trump. “More than half the country voted for Trump. If you respect the process when it works in your favor, you should respect it when it doesn’t.”
Nelly will perform at the Liberty Inaugural Ball with the Village People, whose song “YMCA” was frequently performed at President Trump’s campaign rallies. In a Facebook post, Village People said of their participation: Our song “YMCA” is a global anthem aimed at uniting people. After a divisive election campaign in which our favored candidate lost, we feel it’s time to help unite the country through music. That’s why we will be performing at the 2025 President Donald J. Trump Inauguration Event. ”
Nelly and the Village People will perform at the inaugural ball, while Carrie Underwood, Lee Greenwood and Christopher Macchio will perform at the main ceremony. Earlier, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and Soulja Boy performed at the Crypto Ball, sparking controversy online over past statements made by some of the artists.
Nelly has expressed mixed feelings about Trump in the past. In a 2017 interview with Page Six magazine, he said: “I liked Donald Trump even before he became president. His hotels were nice and I stayed there for years. But now I can’t support him as president. He ruined it for me, buddy.”
