Jennifer Holliday held back tears as she opened up about the backlash she faced for initially agreeing to perform at Donald Trump ‘s inaugural festivities.
« I haven’t done anything to be called names, » the Tony-Award-winning star of Broadway’s « Dreamgirls » said Tuesday on ABC’s « The View. «
The singer said she was called the « n-word » and received death threats.
« I woke up and there was like this whole thing of terrible tweets and things on my Instagram, and I was like, ‘Oh Lord, what did I do,' » Holliday recalled after it was announced that she was among the lineup of performers at the « Make America Great! Again Welcome Celebration. «
Holliday later pulled out of the event.
« I live a pretty reclusive life, » she told « The View » co-hosts. « You’re not on the radio and then one morning you wake up and everyone hates you. «
« Because I’m an artist and I love America! » @LadyJHOLLIDAY says of why she originally planned to perform at a Trump inauguration event. pic.twitter.com/AxDOAvsLl8
The singer said she was open to performing at first « because I’m an artist and I love America. «
Holliday has performed for four other presidents — Ronald Reagan , George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. « It didn’t dawn on me that this was a bad thing and we’re not doing America right now, » she said.
« It was my honest desire that my voice…could be used as an instrument of healing and unity, » she added.
After a letter in The Daily Beast , titled « Jennifer Holliday Will Perform at Trump’s Inauguration , Which Is Heartbreaking to Gay Fans » was published last Friday, Holliday decided to back out of her commitment.
« The gay community since ‘Dreamgirls’ for 35 years has been faithfully there for me, » she told « The View. » « They were hurting and in pain. «
Long considered an ally of the LGBT community, the singer said she didn’t want to be perceived as being a « liar » or a « hypocrite » by performing at the inauguration.
« Please know that I HEAR YOU and I feel your pain. The LGBT Community was mostly responsible for birthing my career and I am deeply indebted to you, » she said in an open letter last week announcing her decision not to perform. « You have loved me faithfully and unconditionally and for so many years you provided me with work even though my star had long since faded. «
