Rebecca Ferguson says She’ll Perform at Trump’s Inauguration if Allowed to Sing “Strange Fruits” Which Protests Racism

British pop singer Rebecca Ferguson has been invited to sing at US President elect’s Donald Trump inauguration. However, the pop singer gave a condition to honour this invite saying she will only perform if she can sing ‘Strange Fruit’- a song protesting racism in the 1930 originally sang by Billie Holiday.

Ferguson, who was the runner up of the UK X-Factor in 2010, said on her Twitter handle:

I have been asked and this is my answer. If you allow me to ‘Strange Fruit’ a song that has huge historical importance, a song that was blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial. A song that speaks to all the disregarded and down trodden black people in the United States. A song that is a reminder of how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in the world, then I will graciously accept your invitation and see you  in Washington. Best Rebecca X.

Trump’s team has been looking for a suitable artiste to perform at the inauguration.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir – a group who in the last five presidential inaugurations have performed also declined to perform at this year’s, stating that the performance for Trump would betray her values

The Madison Square Garden Company also released a statement saying that individual dancers from the famous dancing group, Rockettes, would not be compelled to perform at the inauguration. This followed a protest made on Instagram by Phoebe Pearl, a dancer in the group. Her post was deleted shortly after.

Source: CNN