'If I had to lose my job over this, I would.': Some of the Rockettes are refusing to perform at Trump's inauguration
Daniel Goodman / Business Insider
And the decision whether to perform at Trump's ceremony is causing tension within the group, one of the dancers said in an interview with Marie Claire published on Tuesday.
The union representing the iconic Radio City dancers apparently made the group's Jan. 20 performance optional, after public backlash over reports they would be forced to perform at Trump's inauguration, according to the dancer, whom Marie Claire assigned the pseudonym, "Mary."
"The majority of us said no immediately," Mary told the magazine. "Then there's the percentage that said yes, for whatever reason - whether it's because they're young and uninformed, or because they want the money, or because they think it's an opportunity to move up in the company when other people turn it down."
"If I had to lose my job over this, I would. It's too important," she said.
Trump's transition team booked the Rockettes after struggling to land other acts to play the inauguration. Numerous high-profile entertainers have turned the gig down. And for the first time in five inaugurations, no Washington-area high-school marching band will play during the parade, NBC Washington reported.
The Rockettes dancer said she was concerned performing at the inauguration would associate the troupe with Trump's incendiary rhetoric toward minority groups.
"This is making our show, our job, our name, branded as right-wing. An extreme right-wing," she said. "There's a reason why everyone else is turning this down. Why are we not?"
The Rockettes performed at George W. Bush's inauguration ceremonies in 2001 and 2005.
n
Read the full Marie Claire interview here »
- Some Tesla factory workers realized they were laid off when security scanned their badges and sent them back on shuttles, sources say
- I tutor the children of some of Dubai's richest people. One of them paid me $3,000 to do his homework.
- India not benefiting from democratic dividend; young have a Kohli mentality, says Raghuram Rajan
- Indo-Gangetic Plains, home to half the Indian population, to soon become hotspot of extreme climate events: study
- 7 Vegetables you shouldn’t peel before eating to get the most nutrients
- Gut check: 10 High-fiber foods to add to your diet to support digestive balance
- 10 Foods that can harm Your bone and joint health
- 6 Lesser-known places to visit near Mussoorie