Chrisette Michele Attempts to Defend Trump Inauguration Performance in Open Letter

Chrisette Michele quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in an open letter on Thursday after fans expressed outrage over her Trump inauguration performance.

Chrisette Michele, staring down a permanent wave of mockery after apparently agreeing to perform at Trump's inauguration, now says she wants to be a "bridge" and doesn't mind being met with "stones" to do so. In an open letter posted to Twitter and Instagram early Thursday, the former Motown Records artist quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and closed with the hashtag #NoPoliticalGenius.

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"My heart is broken for our country, for the hopes of our children, for the fights of those who came before us," Michele claimed in the open letter entitled "We Can't Be Present If We're Silent." "I cry at the thought that Black History, American History, might be in vain. This country has had great moments. God has shined His Light upon us." Future "great moments," Michele proposed, can start with "peaceful and progressive conversation," a category under which she is presumably filing her inauguration performance? Idk.

https://t.co/lvG5EhBe6r | An Open Letter pic.twitter.com/enNJvHyZPi

— chrisette michele (@ChrisetteM) January 19, 2017

The open letter was immediately called into question by (former?) fans, many of whom took issue with Michele's MLK citation and the damaging rhetoric of the incoming administration:

if you are going to quote Martin - then let's quote Martin & not just cherry pick words that justify your behavior.

— Leslie Mac (@LeslieMac) January 19, 2017

there is this gem. Comfort/convenience vs challenge/controversy.

Guess which side you are firmly on by singing tomorrow? pic.twitter.com/lsiLhPC2Zi

— Leslie Mac (@LeslieMac) January 19, 2017

So, you're "building a bridge" by performing for an administration that openly dishonors women and minorities?

— Noire (@authentic_april) January 19, 2017

No, you're building your bank account. I would suggest asking for your check upfront. He has a tendency to default on payments.

— Noire (@authentic_april) January 19, 2017

Singing at an inauguration is not conversation. I never saw MLK sing at the White House during his fight for civil rights

— Tessa (@CurtessaJacques) January 19, 2017

keep this. You get terrible advice. First taking the gig and then this font color and size?? Both bad choices. Do better

— Venika Dewan (@VenikaDewan) January 19, 2017

Others noted her baffling choice of font:

Chrisette Michele will join some guy named Toby Keith and alleged band performing alleged music 3 Doors Down for two days of inaugural celebrations starting Thursday.

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