[h=1]Not my President! 'Embarrassed and disappointed' Rockette dancer blasts Donald Trump in Instagram post after the group are secured to perform at his inauguration[/h]
The Radio City Rockettes are confirmed to perform at Trump's inauguration
One of the group's dancers took to Instagram to voice her disapproval of Trump
The women were told by their union that they cannot 'boycott' the event
Donald Trump claims 'A-list celebrities' are desperate to attend his inauguration
'I want the PEOPLE!' Trump tweeted about his guest list on Thursday evening
Tweet came after it was reported the Beach Boys had been asked to perform
Celine Dion, Kiss, Elton John, and Garth Brooks have already turned Trump down
By SIMON HOLMES FOR MAILONLINE and LIAM QUINN PUBLISHED: 11:45, 23 December 2016 | UPDATED: 13:16, 23 December 2016
President-elect Donald Trump secured the Radio City Rockettes to perform at his January 20 inauguration however one of the dance troupe's performers took to Instagram to voice her discontent at the move. After the decision was made on Thursday, dancer Phoebe Pearl posted a tirade against the next president with a photo of her performing and a cartoon caption saying 'not my president.' The New York City-based performer wrote on Instagram that she was 'embarrassed and disappointed' to appear at the event. 'I usually don't use social media to make a political stand but I feel overwhelmed with emotion,' Pearl wrote. 'Finding out that it has been decided for us that Rockettes will be performing at the Presidential inauguration makes me feel embarrassed and disappointed.' Pearl said she felt uncomfortable about performing for Trump citing his history of unsavory language and assault allegations. 'The women I work with are intelligent and are full of love and the decision of performing for a man that stands for everything we're against is appalling,' she wrote. 'I am speaking for just myself but please know that after we found out this news, we have been performing with tears in our eyes and heavy hearts #notmypresident.' She has since deleted the Instagram post. The woman reportedly received an email from their union informing them that they were not allowed to 'boycott' the event.
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Pearl's now deleted Instagram post that outlined her dissatisfaction of being drafted in to play at Trump's swearing in ceremony
On Thursday, the president-elect proclaimed he only wants 'the people' at his swearing in, which is scheduled for January 20 in Washington D.C. 'The so-called 'A' list celebrities are all wanting tixs (sic) to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary, NOTHING. I want the PEOPLE!' Trump tweeted.
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Donald Trump (pictured during a rally on December 16 in Florida) said he does not need stars at his inauguration on January 20
However it is reported a number of 'A-lost celebrities' have rejected Trump's invitations to perform at the prestigious ceremony. Trump, who hosted multiple seasons of the reality TV show, Celebrity Apprentice, sent off his tweet just hours after it was reported the Beach Boys had been approached about potentially performing at the inauguration. The group was reportedly considering the offer and had not turned it down outright, according to the New York Post. The newspaper cited a source close to the band, who claimed the members of the group were yet to make up their minds on whether they'd bust out some old classics at the event. Unlike the Beach Boys, diva Celine Dion said she would not perform at the Trump celebration, despite an intense lobbying effort from Las Vegas casino magnate Steve Wynn.
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'The so-called 'A' list celebrities are all wanting tixs to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary, NOTHING. I want the PEOPLE!' Trump (pictured in Alabama on December 17) said
Wynn had told the Donald he'd be able to deliver Dion, but the 48-year-old singer was forced to tell him to think twice. Others to reject offers to take the stage at the internationally-broadcast event include famed opera singer Andrea Bocelli and rock legend Elton John. The famed rock band Kiss was confirmed not to be playing the event, Gene Simmons' wife Shannon Tweed told TMZ. Simmons added the band was slated to be on a European tour coinciding with Trump's swearing-in.
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Celine Dion (pictured performing in Las Vegas in October), 48, declined a chance to play at Donald Trump's inauguration, set for January 20
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Kiss, playing in Beverly Hills in April, will not be rocking on the stage in D.C. after turning Trump down
The Republican's inauguration has been a tough sell to people in the show business industry, as many of the acts who turned down the high-profile assignment did so out of not wanting to 'normalize' Trump's reign as president, a source told TheWrap. Hollywood poured massive amounts of cash into loser Hillary Clinton's campaign. The Mormon church announced on its website Thursday that the 360-member volunteer choir will sing at the ceremony on Jan. 20. The group has performed at a handful of other presidential inaugurals, including those of presidents George HW Bush, George W Bush and Ronald Reagan. Mark Burnett, who produced Celebrity Apprentice for Trump, is in charge of putting together the inauguration, the outlet reported, noting that respected talent booker Suzanne Bender has been added to the team amid Trump's impatience with its early struggles to procure big name performers.
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Elton John (pictured in New York on November 2) has also already declined the offer to perform for Trump
[h=1]Participation is voluntary and there's a waitlist: Rockettes hit back at dancer who says she will perform at Trump's inauguration with tears in her eyes[/h]
The Radio City Rockettes are confirmed to perform at Trump's inauguration
One of the group's dancers took to Instagram to voice her disapproval of Trump
The women have been told they do not have to participate in the show
A-List celebs like Judd Apatow had been urging people to call the producers of the show
Donald Trump claims 'A-list celebrities' are desperate to attend his inauguration
Celine Dion, Kiss, Elton John, and Garth Brooks have already turned Trump down
By SIMON HOLMES FOR MAILONLINE and LIAM QUINN PUBLISHED: 11:45, 23 December 2016 | UPDATED: 19:08, 23 December 2016
The famed Radio City Hall Rockettes will not be forced to participate in the group's planned performance next month in Washington DC for Donald Trump's election. The American Guild of Variety Artists, the union which is meant to protect the girls, said that any plans for the women to refuse to perform at the show are invalid. 'Everyone is entitled to her own political beliefs, but there is no room for this in the workplace,' said the union in a letter obtained by Broadway World. It closed out by saying: 'If you are not full time, you do not have to sign up to do this work. If you are full time, you are obligated. 'Doing the best performance to reflect an American Institution which has been here for over 90 years is your job. I hope this pulls into focus the bottom line on this work.' Soon after this however Madison Square Garden Company said in a statement that all Rockettes need to sign up in order to be considered for an event and that there was already a wait list due to the number of women interested,m so no one would be performing against their will.
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The Radio City Rockettes will not be forced to perform at Trump's inauguration
A-List celebs like Judd Apatow had been urging people to call the producers of the show
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George Takei wrote: 'The members of the Rockettes and the Mormon Tabernacle are like all of us: Forced to go along with something horrible they didn't choose.'
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Former Saturday Night Live alum Rachel Dratch joked: ' If #Rockettesare forced to perform at Inauguration they shouldn't wax,so kick line exposes overgrowth of full 1970's-style bushes'
Prior to the release of that statement, many A-list stars had voiced their support for the women on social media. Amanda Duarte wrote on Facebook: 'Most of the Rockettes do not want to perform at the inauguration. AGVA, their union, has put in writing to the full time Rockettes that they must accept the inauguration gig or they will lose their jobs. 'It's perfect, actually. What could be more fitting for this inauguration than forcing a group of women to do something with their bodies against their will?' Shen then included the number and email for producers with the show that people could reach out to. Directors Paul Feig and Judd Aaptow and Patton Oswald were among the thousands who shared her message. Former Saturday Night Live alum Rachel Dratch joked: 'If #Rockettesare forced to perform at Inauguration they shouldn't wax,so kick line exposes overgrowth of full 1970's-style bushes.' And George Takei wrote: 'The members of the Rockettes and the Mormon Tabernacle are like all of us: Forced to go along with something horrible they didn't choose.' Madison Square Garden meanwhile is saying the women do not have to perform, but are not stating what the consequences may be if they refuse to go on stage.
