Nelly has addressed the backlash to his choice to perform at Donald Trump‘s Liberty Inaugural Ball.
Days before the performance, the Country Grammar star sat down with Willie D to answer why he decided to take the gig. Nelly, alongside artists Jason Aldean and the Village People, explained that he was set to perform at just one of the three commemorative balls, and asserted that he was “proud” to be selected for the event.
In fact, the rapper declared that “it is an honor for me to perform for the president of the United States, regardless of who is in office.” Despite what people may say about his decision, his actions are not an endorsement of Trump for president, stating that the move was “not political” and that he isn’t “trying to tell anybody who they should vote for.”
“This is not me telling you, ‘Yo, you should vote for this candidate.’ I think you should do your homework and figure out what best helps you and the people who you love and you provide for because I’m clueless on a lot of things when it gets down to it,” Nelly explained of the backlash.
“But what I will say is that, I respect the office. This isn’t politics. The politics, for me, is over. [Trump] won! He’s the president. He’s the commander in chief of what I would like to say is the best country in the world…It is an honor for me to perform for the president of the United States, regardless of who is in office.”
As the conversation continued, he then issued his own criticisms aimed at his “fans” who have been rocking with him for two decades. He questioned their motives and wondered why they even liked him if it wasn’t the music.
“If President Biden would’ve asked me to perform, I would’ve performed. If Vice-President Kamala Harris would’ve won and asked me to perform, I would’ve performed … I didn’t know that you was riding with me because you thought I would ride for who you voted for. I didn’t know that I had to agree with your political choices. If you follow what I do, this shouldn’t even be an argument.”
As for whether or not Nelly is a Trumper, the “Hot in Herre” artist declared, “I support the president of the United States regardless of who is in office. Regardless, I respect the office.”
That wasn’t the last time Nelly addressed the backlash. The night of Trump’s Inauguration (Jan. 20), the diamond-certified musician spoke with ABC News about his decision.
During the brief conversation, the 50-year-old doubled down on his love “for the office” and insisted that sometimes Black people have to work with folks that they don’t agree with to get things down. However, the man born and raised on a military base insisted that if people in the military can fight for a president they didn’t vote for, he can do the same with music.
Watch the videos above.
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