Jennifer Holliday (promo)
Twitter unleashed a wrath of negative tweets after Donald Trump’s team revealed Jennifer Holliday was on tap to perform at a pre-inauguration event for the president-elect. After her publicist said the star “hasn’t agreed yet” to sing, Holliday said she would do so “for the people.”
The Trump inauguration committee announced Friday, Jan. 13, that the “Dreamgirls” star would be performing at the “Make America Great! Welcome Celebration” at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, according to CNN. The performance would place her in the company of country music singers Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood and rock band 3 Doors Down.
Can't wait for @TobyKeithMusic, @LadyJHOLLIDAY, @3doorsdown, etc. and remarks from @realDonaldTrump at the #MAGA Welcome Celebration!
— Boris Epshteyn (@BorisEP) January 13, 2017
As news spread about the initial confirmation, many Twitter users shared their disappointment. The backlash echoed the concern over the marching band of historically Black Talladega College performing at the Jan. 20 inauguration.
This week in career suicide Jennifer Holiday has agreed to sing at the Klan rally… I mean inauguration
— Anton Maurice (@AntycingGent) January 13, 2017
@WPJohnWagner @BroadwayWorld Shocked & gravely disappointed in Jennifer Holliday
— TJ’s #DemForce (@Twytterpaytyd) January 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/yuupitsjess/status/819999106907209728
https://twitter.com/TheSwissK/status/819990111106502656
We The Black Delegation will like to trade Jennifer Holliday and a future 1st round pick for Betty White ..
— S G (@SGofDaRuSH) January 13, 2017
The broadway cast of the color purple after they find out that Jennifer Holliday is singing at Trump's inauguration: pic.twitter.com/IVXlGdErg1
— Reese. (@charissemarciaa) January 13, 2017
Message received, JH #jenniferholliday pic.twitter.com/OanERStqWo
— Anne Rodeman (@RodemAnne) January 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/ira/status/819957441802698754
The outrage was initially unwarranted. The “And I Am Telling You (I’m Not Going)” singer hasn’t officially committed to performing at the Trump-supportive event. Her publicist Bill Carpenter said Holliday’s decision will be made before the end of the day.
“Jennifer has been asked to perform, but she hasn’t officially agreed to do so yet,” Carpenter said. “I’ll let you know later this afternoon for sure if she’ll be performing.”
Speaking to The New York Times, Holliday confirmed she would sing at the welcome event.
“I’m singing on the mall for the people,” she said in defense of the choice before noting Hillary Clinton had her vote. “I don’t have a dog in this fight — I’m just a singer, and it’s a welcome concert for the people on the mall.
“I just thought of the history part of it,” she added. “And about singing on the mall where Marian Anderson paved the way for me to sing as a Black American.
Holliday’s participation in the celebration will mark her first performance after wrapping up her stint on Broadway in “The Color Purple,” which ended Jan. 8.
“I know everybody hates me now,” the singer said of the backlash. “But that shows we are all just hateful people now — we don’t even want to work together.”
