After reports broke about Nelly being scheduled to perform at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, the St. Louis rapper is defending his upcoming performance, while claiming, “I apologize. I didn’t know that I had to agree with your political choices.”
RELATED: Nelly Is Reportedly Performing At Donald Trump’s Inaugural Ball
On Friday (January 17), CBS News reported that sources familiar with inauguration planning for Donald Trump told them that Nelly, 50, is set to perform at the Inaugural Liberty Ball, just one of the President-elect’s three official inaugural balls on Monday (January 20). USA Today also confirmed the news claiming a press release from the Donald Trump-J.D. Vance’s Inaugural Committee indicated that the three-time Grammy Award-winning artist would be performing for Trump.
As mentioned, the Liberty Ball, which is geared toward supporters of Trump, is one of the three official inaugural balls that will take place on Monday and it will be taking place after Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, which has been moved indoors to the Capitol due to expected arctic weather conditions in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, the Commander in Chief Ball focuses on military service members and the Starlight Ball focuses on high-dollar donors. Trump is expected to deliver speeches at all three events.
In response to the news of Nelly performing at Donald Trump’s inauguration, social media has gone into an uproar, while also calling out Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy who performed at Friday night’s (January 17) Crypto Ball, as part of Donald Trump’s Inauguration weekend. However, Nelly has defended his performance for Donald Trump’s inauguration and told Willie D, that he was confused about the backlash and that he is just doing his patriotic duty.
During a new interview, Nelly told Willie D, “I thought you was riding with me because I put on for my city. I did not know you was riding with me ‘cause you thought I would ride for who you voted for. I didn’t know that. I apologize. I didn’t know that I had to agree with your political choices. I thought it was the things you do, not the things that you say should be done.”
Nelly continued, “He’s the president. He won. I’m not out here on a political campaign. I didn’t get none of that $1.5 [million] to get anybody voted [in]… I respect the office. It don’t matter who is in office. The same way that our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country have to go to war and have to put their lives on the line for whoever’s in office. So, if they can put their life on the line for whoever is in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever is in office.”
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