Chrisette Michele Disowned By Family After Trump Inauguration Performance
Embattled R&B singer Chrisette Michele agreed to perform at President Trump"s inauguration because she wanted to use her voice for change.
The 34-year-old vocalist who has battled backlash since signing on for the inaugural gig admits she didn"t think twice about accepting the offer to sing on Trump"s behalf, because she hoped to use her platform to send a message to the commander-in-chief.
"With the entire campaign experience, I think that many of us were wondering, "Who is he talking to?"" Michele said Wednesday on New York"s "The Breakfast Club" radio show. "You would hear something and you would say, "Why does he think it"s OK to talk to "us" like that?" So I needed him to see what "us" looked like because I was as confused as everyone."
Michele"s decision to perform didn"t just upset her fan base, however. Famed filmmaker Spike Lee responded with a vow to avoid using Michele"s song "Black Girl Magic" in his upcoming Netflix series, "She"s Gotta Have It."
Chrisette Michele on Trump"s inauguration: "I had to go"
Despite the scrutiny, michele believes she had no choice but to take the stage in Washington.
"I"m the one who feels left out," she said on Wednesday"s radio show. "I keep hearing him say, or the campaign trail say, "For the people who feel like they don"t belong or who feel like they"re not being heard..." And I was saying, "I don"t know if we"re being heard." So I had to go. There was no hesitation."
Michele"s "Breakfast Club" appearance comes a day after she revealed to Billboard that she didn"t even get to meet Trump at the inauguration, despite the ridicule she suffered through to be there.
She was originally scheduled to take the mic after Trump"s first speech, she recalled. But an organizer told her she would instead perform before the speech leaving her without a chance to even shake Trump"s hand.
Spike Lee wont use Chrisette Micheles music after Trump gig
"I looked her in the eye and said, "My family has disowned me,"" Michele said. ""If you decide to Google me, you"ll see that America is writing about me in their newspapers. I"m the black poster child for discord right now, and he"s not going to shake my hand?" So no, I didn"t get to meet him."
Michele served as a headliner for Trump"s inaugural performance lineup that also included Toby Keith, 3 Doors Down and Jackie Evancho, who sang the national anthem.
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