Singer Jewel defended her performance at one of the many inauguration balls for President Donald Trump following a flurry of criticism for her appearance.
In a video posted on Friday on Instagram, the 50-year-old singer told fans she decided to sing at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” ball because she’s been a longtime advocate for mental health in America and said the situation in our country is “bleak.”
“As many of you know, I am a mental health advocate,” the singer — born Jewel Kilcher — said. “If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past 20 years, it’s that mental health affects everybody’s lives across party lines. I reached out to the last administration, spoke with the surgeon general about the mental health crisis that’s facing our nation. I don’t know if you guys know the stats, but it is bleak.”
“I believe there’s things we can do. I believe I can save lives and help,” she added. “And if I believe I can help, I have to try. And if I wait to try until I agree 100% with the people that might be willing to help me, I’d never get off the bench. I don’t think that’s how activism works, waiting until everything’s perfect enough to participate. It’s actually because things are so imperfect that we have to find ways to engage and to participate. And we have to act now. We cannot wait another four years.”
The Grammy-nominated singer said she believes there are people in the new administration who are “willing to help on this issue,” making it clear she doesn’t believe in “all the politics” of the Trump administration.
She added that if she can “make sure mental health is in the conversation when it comes to American health” and “help put resources or mental health tools into the hands of the most vulnerable who need it, I’m going to try and I’m going to fight.”
CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT
“And I understand that my words were overly simplistic. Half of our country feels hope right now, and I honor that. And half of our country feels disenfranchised and scared and vulnerable, and that is unacceptable,” Jewel explained.
The singer also said she’s “so sorry” that she “caused pain” to her LGBTQ+ followers, whom she called “treasures,” the New York Post noted.
“And I will not stop fighting. None of us can afford to stop fighting, and I really believe that the only way we can change is in relationship,” she added. “It isn’t in isolation or by isolating, it’s by being in relationship, by reaching out, by having hard conversations, and I really hope that we can push through our hurt and move toward understanding on both sides.”
Related: ‘This Isn’t Politics’: Rapper Nelly Defends Decision To Perform At Trump’s Inaugural Ball
[#item_full_content]
[[{“value”:”
Singer Jewel defended her performance at one of the many inauguration balls for President Donald Trump following a flurry of criticism for her appearance.
In a video posted on Friday on Instagram, the 50-year-old singer told fans she decided to sing at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” ball because she’s been a longtime advocate for mental health in America and said the situation in our country is “bleak.”
“As many of you know, I am a mental health advocate,” the singer — born Jewel Kilcher — said. “If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past 20 years, it’s that mental health affects everybody’s lives across party lines. I reached out to the last administration, spoke with the surgeon general about the mental health crisis that’s facing our nation. I don’t know if you guys know the stats, but it is bleak.”
“I believe there’s things we can do. I believe I can save lives and help,” she added. “And if I believe I can help, I have to try. And if I wait to try until I agree 100% with the people that might be willing to help me, I’d never get off the bench. I don’t think that’s how activism works, waiting until everything’s perfect enough to participate. It’s actually because things are so imperfect that we have to find ways to engage and to participate. And we have to act now. We cannot wait another four years.”
The Grammy-nominated singer said she believes there are people in the new administration who are “willing to help on this issue,” making it clear she doesn’t believe in “all the politics” of the Trump administration.
She added that if she can “make sure mental health is in the conversation when it comes to American health” and “help put resources or mental health tools into the hands of the most vulnerable who need it, I’m going to try and I’m going to fight.”
CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT
“And I understand that my words were overly simplistic. Half of our country feels hope right now, and I honor that. And half of our country feels disenfranchised and scared and vulnerable, and that is unacceptable,” Jewel explained.
The singer also said she’s “so sorry” that she “caused pain” to her LGBTQ+ followers, whom she called “treasures,” the New York Post noted.
“And I will not stop fighting. None of us can afford to stop fighting, and I really believe that the only way we can change is in relationship,” she added. “It isn’t in isolation or by isolating, it’s by being in relationship, by reaching out, by having hard conversations, and I really hope that we can push through our hurt and move toward understanding on both sides.”
Related: ‘This Isn’t Politics’: Rapper Nelly Defends Decision To Perform At Trump’s Inaugural Ball
“}]]
