Nelly defended his decision to perform at President-elect Trump’s inaugural ball this weekend, saying the event was “not a campaign.”
“I’m not political,” the rapper said Saturday night during a livestreamed conversation with Willie D. “I’m not here to tell anyone who to vote for.”
The list of artists booked for President Trump’s inauguration event sparked a backlash this week, with many fans criticizing the singers who accepted the invitation. Carrie Underwood, Gavin DeGraw and Billy Ray Cyrus are also scheduled to appear. Nelly is scheduled to perform at the Liberty Inaugural Ball and was originally announced as a “surprise musical guest” along with Jason Aldean and the Village People.
“This isn’t me saying, ‘Hey, you should vote for this candidate.’ You should do your homework and think about what will best serve you and the people you love and the people you provide for. I think I should, because I’m ignorant about a lot of things when it comes down to it,” Nelly continued on Saturday. “But what I can say is that I respect the office. This is not politics. Politics is over for me. He won! He is president. He is the supreme commander of a country that wants to be called the best country in the world.”
Nellie also talked about her childhood experiences on a military base in Texas and praised her family who served in the U.S. military. “If they can give their lives for the office, Nelly will be able to perform,” he said. “It would be an honor for me to perform for the President of the United States, regardless of who is in office.”
The “Hot in Here” singer said she was disappointed by fans’ criticism of her performance choices. “If President Biden had asked me to appear, I would have appeared. If Vice President Kamala Harris had won and asked me to appear, I would have appeared…For those of you who voted. I didn’t know you were along for the ride because I thought I would. I didn’t know I had to agree with your political choices. If you follow my style, this is it. It shouldn’t even be a debate.”
When Willie D asked if she considered herself a Trump supporter, Nellie replied: Anyway, I respect the agency. ” Elsewhere in the conversation, he said, “Performing for someone and voting for someone are two different things.”
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Nelly’s representatives for further comment.
