Nationwide — Rapper Nelly is facing backlash after reports surfaced that he will perform at one of President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural balls. He insists that his decision is not political but a show of respect for the presidency.
According to TMZ, Nelly addressed the criticism during an interview with Willie D, clarifying that his performance wasn’t a political statement. He stated, “He’s the president. He won. That’s why I’m not telling you who to vote for. He’s the president of the United States, not the candidate for the United States.”
Nelly emphasized that he didn’t need to agree with Trump’s policies to perform at the event. “I respect the office. It don’t matter who is in office. If they can put their life on the line for whoever is in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever is in office,” he said.
The rapper also denied accusations that money motivated his decision, saying, “I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing this because it’s an honor… That’s what this is about.”
Though Nelly has previously shared his opinions about Trump, he maintains that his decision to perform at the ball isn’t politically motivated.