Declaring “Not My President,” Rockettes push back against Donald Trump inauguration
For a moment it seemed Donald Trump had finally managed to book a household name for his inauguration. But now the Rockettes are rebelling against him as well, in a controversy which is becoming increasingly public and ugly. Trump secured the group by making a deal with their MSG bosses, a move which is backfiring as the Rockettes themselves come forward to explain why they want nothing to do with it – and now it sounds like they may be let off the hook.
The controversy started when one of the Rockettes dancers, Phoebe Pearl, stated that she and her colleagues disagreed with the move. According to USA Today, she referred to the idea of performing for the openly sexist Donald Trump as “appalling” and that “after we found out this news, we have been performing with tears in our eyes and heavy hearts.” She added “We will not be forced!” along with the increasingly popular #notmypresident hashtag.
That prompted the union representing the Rockettes to assert that while the dancers who are full time employees are “obligated” to perform at the Trump inaugural, those who are not full time would not be required to participate, according to theater publication Broadway World.
But the saga appears to have taken yet another turn, as MSG now claims the Rockettes will each be given a “choice” whether or not to perform, according to entertainment publication The Hollywood Reporter. Meanwhile a number of celebrities are now publicly speaking up on behalf of the Rockettes who want to boycott the inaugural of the hated Donald Trump. This comes after everyone from Garth Brooks to Celine Dion to Andrea Bocelli to Elton John has turned him down.
