Chrisette Michele and Spike Lee (Rich Hipster promo/David Shankbone)
Chrisette Michele has fired back at Spike Lee after the famed director decided against using her song in his upcoming Netflix series in light of her performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Reports surfaced that Michele agreed to sing for the 45th president on Wednesday, Jan. 18. On Instagram Jan. 19, Lee wrote that he “was sorry to read” about the performance. “I Wuz Thinkin’ ’bout Using Chrisette’s Song- BLACK GIRL MAGIC In My Netflix Series SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT….” he wrote. “NOT ANYMORE. And Dat’s Da Truth, Ruth.”
Michele’s fiancé and manager Doug Ellison came to her defense by posting this response to Lee on Instagram Sunday, Jan. 22. Michele later posted the same message on Twitter before both were deleted.
On Monday, Jan 23, Michele shared the title track from her upcoming spoken word album, “No Political Genius.”
“I am the Black song Spike Lee won’t sing/I am the Black voice inauguration bells ring,” she began the track. “I am the Black sheep disguising the scared wolf/No, I am the Black elephant in the red room scared shook.
“R&B for Def Jam/Rich Hipster for Brooklyn/But Spike won’t pay me, a crook from Crooklyn/I’m still Black Girl Magic,” she added.
“This is my stand in for John Lewis and Ben Carson/Questlove, Spike Lee and before them/I won’t divide now, that’s not smart now/ God before me, I won’t back down/This is my damn America now,” Michele ended her dig at the “Crooklyn” director. She also nodded to Questlove’s offer to pay her not to perform at the inauguration event.
Since the Lee shared his sentiments, many commenters have weighed in.
Some supported Lee’s decision to not use Michele’s song .
Others were critical of the 59-year-old director, accusing him of being a hypocrite and putting down the “Epiphany” singer.
