Rapper Nelly has defended his decision to perform at US President Donald Trump’s inauguration ball, amidst a backlash from fans and fellow artists. Nelly will share the stage with country singer Jason Aldean and the Village People on Monday at the Liberty Inaugural Ball.
Nelly faced criticism on social media for performing at an event that falls on Martin Luther King Day and coincides with the Trump administration’s recent comments on racial diversity. However, in a livestreamed conversation with fellow rapper Willie D, Nelly clarified that he is not trying to make a political statement and does not want to influence voters.
“I respect the office of the presidency,” Nelly said. “This isn’t politics for me. If President Biden or Vice-President Kamala Harris had asked me to perform, I would have performed.”
Nelly stated that his decision to perform at Trump’s inauguration ball is based on his respect for the presidency, not his support for Trump. He emphasized that he supports the president of the United States regardless of who is in office.
The Village People also faced criticism before their performances at several inauguration events, citing their song YMCA as a “global anthem” meant to bring people together after a tumultuous campaign season.
Other artists, including Rick Ross, Soulja Boy, and Snoop Dogg, have faced backlash for performing at events related to the Trump administration, with some calling out their lack of integrity due to previous comments criticizing Trump supporters.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/20/nelly-trump-presidential-inauguration-performance-defence