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Jennifer Holliday Backs Out Of Trump Inauguration, Apologizes To LGBT Community

“I sincerely apologize for my lapse of judgement."

Jennifer Holliday has backed out of appearing at Donald Trump’s inauguration, calling her initial decision to perform a “lapse of judgement.”

In an open letter addressed to "my beloved LGBT community, the Dreamgirls star apologized and said she was “uneducated on the issues.”

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 28: Singer Jennifer Holliday performs onstage at John Lewis 75th Birthday Celebration at The Tabernacle on March 28, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Yesterday, the announcement that Holliday would join 3 Doors Down and Toby Keith at the "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" on the National Mall was met with shock and angery online. Holliday herself referenced a a Daily Beast article explaining why her appearance was so hurtful to LGBT fans, who have long supported her career.

"For the gay community that has bolstered Holliday’s, in her own words, embattled and difficult career and cheered on her recent successes, the news feels like a betrayal," wrote Kevin Fallon. "It is heartbreaking."

In her letter, Holliday called herself a "bipartisan songbird" who has performed for Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush.

"I was honestly just thinking that I wanted my voice to be a healing and unifying force for hope through music to help our deeply polarized country," she wrote.

"Regretfully, I did not take into consideration that my performing for the concert would actually instead be taken as a political act against my own personal beliefs and be mistaken for support of Donald Trump and Mike Pence."

Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: Jennifer Holliday poses at a photo call for "The Color Purple" at Gallagher's Steak House on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

As early as Friday afternoon, Holliday's publicist, Bill Carpenter, was claiming the Trump team was premature in confirming her appearance. “Jennifer has been asked to perform but she hasn’t officially agreed to do so yet."

President Obama’s 2009 Inauguration concert featured Beyonce, U2, Tom Hanks, Mary J. Blige and Bruce Springsteen.

Below, read Jennifer Holliday’s full letter.

TO MY BELOVED LGBT COMMUNITY:

Please allow me this opportunity to speak to you directly and to explain why I originally made my decision to perform at the inauguration which was what I had thought would be my simply keeping in my tradition of being a “bi-partisan songbird” having sung for Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush.

I was asked to sing a song for what was presented to me as the “Welcome Concert For The People”– in my mind I was reflecting on the past times of being asked to sing for presidents and I only focused on the phrase “For The People”… I thought, For America!

I was honestly just thinking that I wanted my voice to be a healing and unifying force for hope through music to help our deeply polarized country… Regretfully, I did not take into consideration that my performing for the concert would actually instead be taken as a political act against my own personal beliefs and be mistaken for support of Donald Trump and Mike Pence.

In light of the information pointed out to me via the Daily Beast article on yesterday, my only choice must now be to stand with the LGBT Community and to state unequivocally that I WILL NOT PERFORM FOR THE WELCOME CONCERT OR FOR ANY OF THE INAUGURATION FESTIVITIES!

I sincerely apologize for my lapse of judgement, for being uneducated on the issues that affect every American at this crucial time in history and for causing such dismay and heartbreak to my fans.

Please know that I HEAR YOU and I feel your pain. The LGBT Community was mostly responsible for birthing my career and I am deeply indebted to you… You have loved me faithfully and unconditionally and for so many years you provided me with work even though my star had long since faded.

Thank you for communicating with me, I had no idea that I still meant so much to all of you.

Thank you for your posted comments both the good supportive ones as well as the ugly hurtful ones.

With LOVE & Appreciation,

JENNIFER HOLLIDAY

“The Original DreamGirl”

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