Despite all the backlash, Chrisette Michele performed at President Donald Trump’s inaugural ball on Friday night!
Many thought the R&B singer succumbed to the pressure and backed out after not appearing at the pre-inaugural concert or the actual swearing-in ceremony. Instead, she took the stage at the Liberty Ball where she sang alongside gospel artist Travis Greene. In the below clip, the duo is backed by a choir as they sing Greene’s gospel hit “Intentional.”
part of the #ChrisetteMichele performance at the Liberty Inaugural Ball pic.twitter.com/Wcg5h55Rpz
— jontarius haywood (@jontarius) January 21, 2017
According to the New York Daily News, Michele was paid $250,000 for her appearance, which begs the question, did she sell out?
Earlier this week, Michele defended her performance, insisting, “We Can’t Be Present If We’re Silent.”
“Today, I hope that Great Moments begin in peaceful & progressive conversation,” she added in a message. “I am willing to be a bridge. I don’t mind “These Stones,” if they allow me to be a voice for the voiceless.”
There are no reports of Michele using her voice to make a stand outside of her performance, granted “Intentional” is a powerful Gospel song about things coming together and working under the vision of God. “I know that All things are working for my God…I don’t have to worry cos…It’s working for me,” the song’s lyrics state.
Michele also said in her note, “I am here, representing you, because this is what matters.”
With a non-broadcast performance and a hefty paycheck, many are asking: How were we “represented?”
With this unanswered question lingering, the internet went on the attack (Just search her name on Twitter), branding Michelle a “sell-out” for a “check.”
Prior to the appearance, iconic director Spike Lee canceled plans to feature Michele’s music (‘Black Girl Magic’) in his upcoming Netflix series, ‘She’s Gotta Have It.’
Nonetheless, Michele and Green gave an impressive showing!
Will she ever recover from this or did she sign her retirement?
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