Rapper Nelly responds to criticism of his performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration ball

Rapper Nelly responds to criticism of his performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration ball
Rapper Nelly responds to criticism of his performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration ball

Rapper Nelly responded to criticism over his decision to perform at one of Donald Trump’s inauguration balls on Monday.

Famous for his title “Dilemma” in duet with Kelly Rowland, rapper Nelly defended his decision to perform at one of the three official balls celebrating the return of Donald Trump to the presidency. “I respect this position. It’s not politics. For me, politics is over. [Trump] won! It’s the president. He is the commander in chief of what I would like to call the greatest country in the world…I don’t do this for the money, I do it because it’s an honor to perform for the President of the United States, it doesn’t matter who is in power,” he said on the “Willie D. Live” podcast this Sunday, January 19.

“Just as our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country must go to war and must risk their lives for those in power. So if they can risk their lives for those in power, I can definitely work for those in power,” continued the artist, whose real name is Cornell Haynes Jr.

Nelly said those who criticized him failed to understand that he was performing out of respect for the presidency, adding: “If President Biden had asked me to perform, I would have performed. If Vice President Kamala Harris had won and asked me to perform, I would have performed… I didn’t know you were with me because you thought I would ride for whoever you voted for. I didn’t know that I had to agree with your political choices.

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Yet in 2017, the musician told PageSix: “You know, the thing about Donald Trump is that I liked Donald Trump, that’s true, but I don’t like Donald Trump as president. Man, it’s a trip. Before the presidency, I was cool with Donald. I loved his hotels. I’m kind of mad at him because I can’t stay in his hotel now. You screwed up everything. And I stayed there for 15 years, and now you’re doing this to me. Get over yourself, buddy.”

Nelly’s comments on the backlash come after fellow rappers Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and Soulja Boy were also criticized for performing at the Crypto Ball in Washington, DC, on Friday. “This is culturally embarrassing and totally disrespectful,” one person wrote, while another commented: “Not a single check in the world is worth selling my soul to the Devil.” “Nipsey and Pac would never do it!!!,” a third person added, referring to late great rappers Tupac Shakur and Nipsey Hussle.

Separately, the inauguration ceremony was to include performances by country star Carrie Underwood, opera singer Christopher Macchio and Lee Greenwood, marking the official opening of the president’s term.

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