British singer Charlotte Church turns down offer to sing for ‘tyrant’ Trump
LONDON (Reuters) – British singer Charlotte Church has rejected an invitation from US President-elect Donald Trump’s team to perform at his inauguration next week, she said in a statement on Tuesday.
The rejection follows other apparent snubs by celebrities including Elton John, whose publicist denied in November that he would be performing at the event after an economic adviser to Trump had said that he would.
“@realDonaldTrump your staff have asked me to sing at your inauguration, a simple Internet search would show I think you’re a tyrant. Bye,” wrote Church in a tweet she concluded with derogatory emojis.
Tom Barrack, a longtime friend of Trump who is organizing the January 20 event, brushed aside suggestions that there would be a lack of star power at the festivities.
Barrack told reporters that Trump himself was “the greatest celebrity in the world” and that the inauguration committee was aiming for a “much more poetic cadence” rather than “a circus-like celebration that’s a coronation.”
Trump’s inauguration committee did not reply to requests for comment about Church.
Classical crossover singer Jackie Evancho, who rose to fame as a child performer on the TV show America’s Got Talent six years ago, has confirmed she would sing the US national anthem at Trump’s inauguration.
Church, who also began her career as a child classical singer, has spoken out in recent years about her left-leaning political views, and posted multiple tweets during the 2016 campaign criticizing Trump.