Celebrities are swerving invites to Donald Trump’s inauguration with the same intensity that the President-Elect dodges questions about his tax returns. Reports have circulated that talent bookers have been offered ambassadorships if they nab top performers and that huge fees are up for grabs to anyone willing to sell their soul and perform at Trump’s inauguration. Sadly for Trump, and his hugely inflated ego, few are interested.
So far, the only talent who’ve been confirmed to perform January 20 in Washington D.C. are “America’s Got Talent” contestant Jackie Evancho, the Talladega College marching band, The Rockettes (with some reservations), and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
And if any other celebrities try to join in on the “festivities,” we can expect Snoop Dogg to put them on blast. Taking to his Instagram account, the 45-year-old rapper said in a video, “Which one of you jigaboo ass ni—*s is going to do it? I’m waiting. I’m going to roast the f—k out of you.”
Not sure a threat from Snoop Dogg is enough to hold anyone back, but let’s hope this paltry lineup doesn’t add any new names. We’re looking at you, Kanye.
In the meantime, here are the celebs who’ve publicly turned down performing at Trump’s inauguration.
Celine Dion
The “My Heart Will Go On” singer had an out in place before even being asked to perform in Washington on Jan. 20. She’s performing at her residency in Las Vegas, and wouldn’t cancel and choose Trump over her fans.
George Lopez
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In a stroke of irony—considering all the disdain Trump has hurled at Mexicans—Mexican comedian George Lopez was asked to spread some good humor at the inauguration. Unsurprisingly, he turned the request down, writing on Twitter, “I have turned down the invitation to perform at the inauguration, then they asked if I had Eric Estrada’s phone number #FTP #pelosmelapela. He reposted the image to his Instagram adding the diss, “Let’s see who #tinyhands ends up with.”
Elton John
A member of Trump’s transition team, Anthony Scaramucci, misspoke when he told the BBC program HARDtalk that Sir Elton John would “be doing our concert on the mall for the inauguration.” However, John’s been an outspoken critic of Trump, and his publicist clarified that he most definitely “will NOT be performing.”
Rebecca Ferguson
British singer and the former runner-up in Season 7 of the U.K.’s X-Factor agreed to perform for Trump nation under one condition: She’d be allowed to sing Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” – a protest song opposing racism in America, particularly, the lynchings of African Americans. Considering many are reporting that post-election hate crimes are on the rise the song seems pretty damn apropos. Unfortunately the Trump camp doesn’t seem to agree, so Ferguson will be a no-show.
Garth Brooks
Some in the country community, like Cowboy Troy and Big & Rich, are showing up to perform for Trump at pre-inauguration festivities. But despite the legendary Garth Brooks initially telling TMZ he’d be open to performing, an insider told TheWrap that the country giant has declined to attend.
Kiss
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Looks like the only crazy makeup we’ll see inauguration day is Trump’s fluorescent orange shade. Kiss was asked to perform, but they “politely declined.”
Moby
Moby’s had one of the best responses to being asked to DJ at one of Trump’s inaugural balls “Hahahahaha, wait, Hahahaha, really?,” he wrote on his Instagram. We’re all equally as perplexed as members of Trump’s team try to proposition celebrities who’ve already spoken against the real estate mogul. In Moby’s post-election “Open Letter to America” he wrote, “Donald Trump is a racist and a misogynist who has ruined countless businesses and will be the worst president our country has ever, ever seen.” And now people are all like, “Hey Moby, let’s party.” Wait, what?! Moby did offer to concede if in exchange for his services Trump releases his tax returns. But we think it’s safe to say our shady president-elect is not about that life.
Andrea Bocelli
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The talented opera singer considered performing at Trump’s inauguration after the orange man himself personally requested Bocelli. But after the Italian singer received backlash online, any possibility of him performing was withdrawn.
Despite all the “no’s” the Trump camp is hearing, there is one event in Washington over Inauguration weekend that has managed to secure a ton of A-list talent, the Anti-Trump Women’s March. Katy Perry, Cher, Zendaya, and Scarlett Johansson have plans to attend the demonstration in D.C the day after Trump’s inauguration on January 21. Similar protests will occur that day around the country.