You will lose your mind trying to understand this singer's defense of playing Trump's inauguration

By Isha Aran | January 19, 2017 | 4:53pm

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In light of the severe tsunami of backlash that ensued after R&B-singer-on-the-verge-of-learning-that-hindsight-is-20/20 Chrisette Michele agreed to perform at the inauguration of Donald Trump, the songstress took it upon herself to explain to her critics why she has agreed to perform for a misogynist, racist soon-to-be president.

Even after Questlove called her out, quipping that he’d pay her to not perform, and Spike Lee announced he was dropping her song “Black Girl Magic” from the soundtrack of his upcoming TV adaptation of She’s Gotta Have It , Michele posted an eloquent, totally not crazy screenshot of a screenshot of a statement to attempt to justify her decision. Take a look at whatever this is.

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After stating that she was heartbroken for the country and sad at the thought that “Black History” might have been “in vain” (what?) Michele expressed that she was “willing to be a bridge.” (Again, what?) She continued:

“I don’t mind These Stones if they allow me to be a voice for the voiceless. I am here. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said…”

[Ed. note: oh boy.]

“Our lives begin to end, the day we become silent about what matters.” I am here representing you because this is what matters.

After signing off, she added “#NoPoliticalGenius.” K.

As far as excuses as to why you’re about to do something terrible, this is pretty thin. First, who is asking Chrisette Michele to represent them? Second, um, black people and other people of color are always the ones “building bridges”—that’s not the problem. It’s that when it comes to the powers that be—which is mostly the white male establishment—having to meet us halfway, they usually burn the damn bridge down. See: the goddamn election and liberals claiming identity politics was the reason Hillary lost the election. Also: if you’re so heartbroken for the country and the children…why are you singing for a man who is cutting programs that combat violence against women, as well as the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities, and who will run this country into the ground????

I guess RIP to Chrisette Michele’s career. But also congrats to Chrisette Michele on her imminent new role on the Itty Bitty Inner City Committee with Steve Harvey and Ben Carson and other Trump-certified black people.