NOTE OF REGRET ON GIG AT DON’S CLUB
Berlin’s singer Terri Nunn is sorry for her part in a New Year’s Eve performance at Mar-a-Lago, where she says safeguards were not in place to stop COVID-19 from taking partygoers’ breath away.
The 59-year-old ’80s star, whose band had hits with “The Metro,” “No More Words” and the “Top Gun” soundtrack tune “Take My Breath Away,” pleaded ignorance on Facebook following blowback from the potential superspreader event, where Vanilla Ice and Taylor Dayne also played.
“I am truly sorry I performed at Mar-a-Lago and would not have done so if I’d known what I learned while I was there. My goal in performing was not to support a political party,” she wrote. “I see now that that’s not the way it appeared and I am apologetic for that as well.”
According to Nunn, she entered into a contract to perform for a small members-only crowd in a “COVID-safe” environment at President Trump’s southeast Florida club, where masks and social distancing would be required.
“Unfortunately it was not COVID-safe anywhere in Florida,” Nunn claimed. “I was shocked by Florida and Mar-aLago’s lack of regard for the pandemic, and if I’d known I would never have gone.”
She called the performance a “mistake I regret” and said she fled the property as soon as possible and has tested negative for the deadly pandemic that has killed more then 22,000 Floridians and 356,000 Americans overall.
She also expressed regret for playing for a conservative audience that might be at odds with the lifestyles of some of her fans. “My apologies to those in the LGBTQ community who thought my performance was a statement against them,” she said.
While some Berlin fans on Facebook appreciated Nunn’s mea culpa, many weren’t buying her story.
“This is a hard bell to unring. Still good to hear an apology,” wrote Matthew Rettenmund. “Can’t imagine how you would think anything at Mar-a-Lago would NOT be political and WOULD be safe. But glad you’re negative.”
Mikie DC’s reaction was less generous. “Yeah, this so called apology doesn’t cut it,” he wrote. “Everyone and their cats know who owns and is responsible for throwing parties at mar a lago. You can’t back pedal after the fact and think it’s ok. It’s not.”
Berlin Facebook friend Gregory Pasceri argued that musicians have to make a living somehow during these tough times.
“The band needs gigs, sometimes you just have to play where work is available!” he wrote. “Hope you and the band manage to avoid the bug while you’re out on the road. Very few are braving the pandemic atmosphere!”
Berlin co-founder David Diamond clarified on Twitter that he was in Northern California when 2020 ended and had nothing to do with Nunn’s show.
“A number of news outlets have reported that ‘Berlin’ played Mar-a-Lago for NYE,” he tweeted. “I want to make clear that I was not at this show, nor did I ever plan to attend. I spent the evening at my home in Truckee.”
Trump did not attend the New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago.