Chrisette Michele: Backlash to uprising: R&B vocalist sparks controversy with 2017 Inauguration Performance

Inaugurations are supposed to be a time for celebration.
Though holding an inaugural ceremony is traditional in America, President-elect Donald Trump didn’t have the popular vote. In the event of planning the ceremony, Trump ran into a lot of dead ends while trying to book artists. Before getting one definite answer from Chrisette Michele, he received several declines.
Prior to Michele agreeing to perform at the inauguration, Trump’s administration reached out to Broadway actress and recording artist, Jennifer Holliday. Holliday initially agreed to perform live at the ceremony but after receiving both backlash via social media and death threats, she resigned.
Holliday decided to reconsider her attendance entirely after the LGBT community felt betrayed. “I sincerely apologize for my lapse of judgement, for being uneducated on the issues that affect every American at this crucial time in history and for causing such dismay and heartbreak to my fans,” states the original Dreamgirl.
On the list of possible performances were Kirk Franklin, Céline Dion, KISS, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Church and The B Street Band. A few of them declined due to a conflict with their tour dates.
Artists such as Céline Dion and Elton John were amongst those who strongly refused.
As for Gospel singer and songwriter Kirk Franklin, he had his own personal reasons for not accepting the invitation.
Franklin told the “Tom Joyner Morning show” his reasons for not wanting to attend the ceremony with intentions to perform. “It’s not an attack on those that chose to. They followed their own conviction. I humbly had to find my own.”
Amongst the masses there was a lot of uproar based on Chrisette Michele’s appearance at the inauguration ceremony.
Spectators argued that Michele was both a sell-out, and desperate. Between the name calling and the memes, Michele became Twitter’s topic of negative conversation.
Despite the social media critics, legendary filmmaker Spike Lee too had something to dish out.
Awaiting the debut of his new series on Netflix, Lee intended on using Michele’s song entitled, “Black Girl Magic.” Since her now legendary performance, he has decided to remove the track from “She’s Gotta Have It.”
Despite the adversity Michele has faced in the media, she had several supporters. One tweet read, “They haven’t been supporting your music and haven’t started a GoFundMe to match your offer. Don’t let them stop you from eating.”
More love and admiration was shown when Lil Mo’ stepped in to defend her good friend Michele. Mo stated on her radio show “Fam in the morning” that Michele has always been about the love.
Michele sent a text message to Mo reading, “If anyone wants to know, I am in a good space. God is so much greater and hopefully there will be a chance to be the salt and the light. It is my only responsibility on this planet.”
Michele took to her blog when the media began to attack. “My heart is broken for our country. For the hopes of our children, for the fights of those who came before us. I cry at the thought of that Black history might be in vain.”
Michele remained positive throughout the course of the week though she was said to be hesitant to alert the media when upon her agreement to perform. She told sources, [that] “We can’t be present if we’re silent.” Michele added that she’s hopeful for a peaceful and progressive conversation.”
Michele was reportedly paid $250,000 to perform at a private event known as the “Liberty Ball,” a smaller event also apart of the inauguration.