Janelle Monáe Criticizes Nelly Over Trump Inauguration Appearance
Janelle Monáe has openly criticized Nelly for his performance at Donald Trump's inauguration, calling him a “motherfucking fool.” Her remarks occurred during a lively Grammys afterparty in Los Angeles.
Monáe's Remarks
As the music from Nelly's hit ‘Hot In Herre’ played, Monáe took the opportunity to express her disappointment with the rapper, saying, “Fuck you, Nelly. I used to like Nelly, but then he went to perform for Donald Trump.”
She passionately continued, emphasizing her commitment to social issues, stating, “I care about women, I care about Hispanics, I care about gay people. You sold out. I used to think you were cool. But now you look like a motherfucking fool.”
Ending her freestyle, she added, “Fuck you, n****. Get a new attitude… I might be a little tipsy, but I know everything I’m motherfucking saying. Fuck you, Nelly!” A clip capturing her performance quickly spread on social media, highlighting her bold stance.
Background on Nelly's Performance
Nelly, alongside Carrie Underwood, performed at Donald Trump's inauguration celebration. Following these performances, both artists saw a decline in their streaming numbers. For instance, Underwood's streams dropped by 6 percent, while Nelly's numbers fell slightly from 1.63 million to 1.54 million streams on the day of the inauguration.
In defense of his decision, Nelly stated, “I didn’t know that I had to agree with your political choices. If you follow what I do, this shouldn’t even be an argument. He is the president. He won.” Nelly also emphasized that he performed out of respect for the office, regardless of his personal political beliefs.
Highlighting Other Grammys Moments
Besides Monáe’s confrontation with Nelly, she also participated in a tribute to the legendary Quincy Jones at the Grammys, alongside Stevie Wonder. During her performance, Monáe honored Jones by singing Michael Jackson's ‘Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough’.
The night concluded with significant awards going to artists like Kendrick Lamar, who took home several honors including Record and Song of the Year, and Beyonce, who made history as the first Black woman to win Album of the Year and Best Country Album for ‘Cowboy Carter’.
Janelle, Nelly, Grammys