“I do this because it’s an honor”

Nelly is speaking out against critics who criticized his performance at tomorrow’s Liberty Inaugural Ball, one of three official balls celebrating Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.

The St. Louis rapper addressed the performance in an interview with Willie D Live, downplaying the political implications of the performance and explaining that he was simply honoring the moment by showing up to the event.

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“I thought you’d come with me because I’m committed to my city and trying to move it forward every step of the way. I didn’t know you were riding with me because you thought I was riding with whoever you voted for. I didn’t know that,” he said. “I didn’t know I had to agree with your policy decisions and I thought it was the things you do, not the things you say should be done. If you follow my approach, this shouldn’t even be an argument. He is the president. He won. This is not a campaign, this is not an RNC. I don’t do political campaigning.”

He continued by comparing the performance to the same sense of civic duty that American service members feel in defending their country. “I don’t do this for money, I do this because it’s an honor. I respect the office. It doesn’t matter who is in office,” he said. “Just as our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country must go to war and risk their lives for anyone in office. So if they put their lives on the line for the incumbent, I can certainly do something.”

Willie D expressed criticism that holding office meant supporting Trump. “More than half of this country voted for Trump. “If you respect the process when it works in your favor, you respect it when it doesn’t work in your favor,” Nelly responded.

Numerous representatives of the rapper did not respond diversity‘s previous requests for comments.

At the Liberty Inaugural Ball, Nelly will be on stage alongside Village People, whose classic “YMCA” became a recurring song played at Trump’s campaign rallies. Village People released a statement earlier this week about its involvement in events surrounding Trump’s inauguration. “We know some of you won’t like hearing this, but we believe music should be performed without regard to politics,” the group wrote on Facebook. “Our song YMCA is a global anthem that will hopefully help bring the country together after a turbulent and divided election campaign in which our preferred candidate lost. That’s why we believe now is the time to bring the country together with music, which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of Donald J. Trump’s inauguration in 2025.”

While Nelly and Village People appear at balls, Carrie Underwood, Lee Greenwood and Christopher Macchio are scheduled for the inauguration itself. On Friday, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and Soulja Boy performed at the Crypto Ball, sparking divisive online reactions that pointed to previous contradictory statements from some rappers.

Nelly also sang a different tune about Trump, telling Page Six in 2017 that he disagreed with his actions as commander in chief. “You know, the thing about Donald Trump is I liked Donald Trump, that was true, I just don’t like Donald Trump as my president,” he said. “Age is a journey. Before my presidency, I was happy with Donald. Loved his hotels. I’m more or less mad at him because I can’t stay at his hotel now. You screwed that up. And I’ve been staying there for 15 years, and now you’re going through with this. Get a hold of yourself, buddy.”

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