Posted on 12/23/2016 7:44:21 PM PST by drewh
The Celebrity Apprentice president’s latest PR problem is celebrities. For weeks, reports have indicated that his inauguration team has had trouble booking any star performers: “They are willing to pay anything,” one talent representative reportedly told TheWrap after being approached by Trump’s people. The president-elect’s camp have denied that’s the case, but Elton John, Celine Dion, and KISS are among those who’ve publicly rejected rumors that they’d play the swearing-in celebrations; right now, the confirmed lineup of recognizable performers is the 16-year-old America’s Got Talent contestant Jackie Evancho, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the Rockettes.
Last night, Trump seemed to confirm Hollywood and he weren’t making nice, tweeting, “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!” It was a remark that flipped the publicized dynamic (Trump’s team approaching A-listers got swiveled the other way around) for a mix of self-congratulation and insults—a familiar maneuver by now. But the tweet also, tellingly, attempted to draw a dividing line between “the PEOPLE” and the entertainment world, making for his latest divide-and-conquer attempt against American popular culture.
“The PEOPLE” that Trump speaks of are, of course, also the reason any given famous person is famous; celebrities reflect their culture. And when it comes to widely beloved musicians of the sort that typically headlines an inaugural event, career success is especially a sign of public affection. Yet the celebrity class by and large has presented obstacles for Trump—and Trump seems to be trying to weaken its sway over “the people,” as he has tried to do for the media, as he has tried to do for his political opponents.
One way to go about the task is by simple debasement. When Trump says that Hamilton is overrated, or that SNL is unwatchable, or that Lena Dunham has “no mojo,” he’s technically not talking politics—he’s making a direct attack on the things that make any of these entities worth paying attention to, their entertainment value. He’s doing something similar in conjuring the image of celebrities begging for inaugural tickets and in mocking their inability to get Hillary Clinton elected. The access, the glamour, the power, the dignity associated with celebrities? All hoaxes, he says.
He’s also attempting to elide the notion of entertainment as a mirror to America by suggesting that in fact popular culture is alienated from the populace. It’s an easy and old argument. Celebrities do live different lives from average Americans. And the fact that Hollywood aligned with the losing presidential candidate, on its face, does not speak for it being in-touch. But in this arena as in others, the nagging problem with his claim to a mandate remains: It’s difficult to say “the People” are wholly on his side when entertainers did in fact speak for a majority of voters, to the tune of 3 million ballots.
He’s also trying to escalate the culture wars, attacking a group of influencers who, it’s clear, doesn’t hold as much sway in the places that elected him—places where the term “Hollyweird” is thrown around and where boycotting Beyonce isn’t a joke. But the vexing fact for him is that so far, most Middle America megastars have not mobilized for Trump. Where is, say, the country-music establishment on the inauguration lineups? Though Big & Rich will take the stage in D.C. at a Recording Industry Association of America fundraiser on Jan. 20—member John Rich won a season of Celebrity Apprentice—the genre’s top tier so far has been mostly silent, with Garth Brooks apparently declining to play. The reason for that might be that such musicians are in fact politically separated from many of their listeners, or it may simply be a calculation to avoid controversy.
Because even the most seemingly apolitical performers are running into controversy by showing up for Trump, more than they would for most any previous president-elect. On Thursday, Madison Square Garden Company chairman James Dolan announced that The Rockettes—a New York City fixture with wide appeal, steeped in mid-century nostalgia and catering to visitors from outside the city—would perform for Trump. Immediately, individual dancers began to dissent. “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,” one wrote on Instagram.
An email from the Rockettes’ union to the performers admonished that they are required to do the job: “You are all employees, and as a company, Mr. Dolan obviously wants the Rockettes to be represented at our country’s Presidential inauguration, as they were in 2001 & 2005.” The email added, “The ranting of the public is just that, ranting.” On Facebook, the writer-performer Amanda Duarte shot back, “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?”*
The conflict shines a different light on Trump’s rhetoric pitting entertainers vs. “the PEOPLE.” In the Rockettes’ case, a famous business interest has decided to align itself with the president-elect, while the rank and file—the people—squirm.
Fake news. It is the celebrities who are boycotting Trump. They are the ones who have declared war.
These idiot “celebrities” should try to remeber what happened to the Dixie Chicks after they went full-on anti-American rant in England while on tour10 years ago. They went from the top to the bottom in a few months. Americans are even less forgiving now of their leftist bullshit. I guarantee you that a lot of these idiots are going to be crying in their soup because they were dumb enough to take a stand while believing the propaganda campaign of the left and the MSM. Middle Class America isn’t fooling around anymore.
What is with the country stars? Are they all chicken? Garth refused to play. Kind of makes me sick.
agree
Beautiful! That was magnificent.
Elton John and Celine Dion are foreigners, why would be want foreign citizens entertaining at the inauguration of the President of the U.S.A.? There have to be true blue Americans who would be willing to entertain their fellow Americans.
Gee, I wonder what the Leftist talking points are right now?
Trump vs celebrities maybe?
What a hoot. Ankle biters...
Never heard of it.
or that SNL is unwatchable
It's never funny.
or that Lena Dunham has “no mojo”
All she has is filth. (and fat)
How would the Atlantic know anything? They’re kicked out of the WH press pool as soon as Trump take office.
Exactly.... given Trump's track record over the past year, one would think that the celebritards would know better but of course they don't. This isn't going to end well for them and I for one couldn't enjoy it more.
The author doesn’t see the irony in claiming that performers reflect the culture, and yet those same performers seem to be uniformly against the very politician who roughly half the electorate selected. Wouldn’t one expect that roughly half of performers would willingly agree to perform?
So the notion that Hollywood reflects the electorate is bogus. The truth is that Hollywood reflects the same coastal states which supported Hillary. Hollywood is just as insulated from the PEOPLE as the MSM is insulated from the people.
Aside from the fact that the author was not astute enough to pick up on the above irony, he goes on to make up his own facts. For instance, for the last story, apparently ONE dancer was vocal in opposition to appearing. The named person who was quoted was not a member of the group. Rush states that the woman with qualms need not show up since there was a wait list of dancers waiting to take her place.
Finally, Rush contends that the reason that Garth and the Beach Boys have demurred is that Hollywood is engaging in a “blacklist”. You know, one of those evil lists which is only used by McCarthyites. [I know, I know, I am quite aware that McCarthy and the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities performed the thankless chore of expunging communists from government and Hollywood. But smearing someone by associating them with McCarthy is what THEY would do. I’m into irony! :) ]
I’ll bet there is some great talent in Russia, Israel and South America.
And so is everyone in flyover country. They HATE these celebrities who live in a "bubble" of the entertainment industry, totally isolated with the concerns of middle Americans.
All those who refused to perform should have their names published so they can be punished. No White House invitations. Trump needs his own papers dedicated to destroying each and every star who dissed him—and elevating all who helped. Remember what William Randolph Hearst did to Orson Wells after Citizen Kane? All who support Trump should boycott these “stars” Don’t Go to their movies, consents or buy CDs. Let the Democrats support them.
IOW, the truth about most of these people will put them on the "Losers A-List".
“The president-elect’s camp have denied that’s the case, but Elton John, Celine Dion, and KISS are among those who’ve publicly rejected rumors that they’d play....”
Let’s make up some news again. You’ll notice that they didn’t say they weren’t playing, or if they were even asked. Just that the rumors saying they would are false.
Why does this crap go anywhere? The mag it came out of is owned by David Bradley, who in the 2008 U.S. presidential primaries he donated $4,300 to Hillary Clinton and $2,300 to Barack Obama. Another lib hit piece.
red
Taking on the press AND Hollywood!
Country
Christian
Military
SUGGESTION TO THE TRUMP CAMP
Have tryouts on RIGHT SIDE NETWORK and let “We the People” vote on who we want to perform on Inauguration Day.>>>>>
great suggestion. like to see some real people who can perform. not just a bunch of a*******s
Since celebrities make their millions from the people... they are banking on enough idiots to buy tickets to see their “talents”.>>> very true i notice on netflix there are movies that are not mainstream. ie a movie on “the last King” of norway that was great. no dollars to hollywood on that one.
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