Los Angeles: Celebrities including James Corden, Jennifer Lopez and Katy Perry mocked at US President Donald Trump at the Grammy Awards through speeches, performances and even dressing styles. The annual award show, which honours the best in the music industry, got political right before it started. While gracing the red carpet, the musical group Highly Suspect made a political statement when its member Johnny Stevens wore a jacket with “Impeach” written on its back, reports people.com.
They were followed by Perry, who had supported Trump’s rival Hillary Clinton during the US election. The singer donned a white pantsuit while having a band on her arms which read: “Persist.” Singer Skylar Grey also made her political agenda clear while carrying a pink LED-enabled clutch across which the words “Empowerment” and “Equality” were written. The references to Trump and his decision to ban Muslims entering the US continued after the ceremony started.
In his opening monologue, host James Corden said: “With President Trump, we don’t know what comes next.” While presenting the award for Best New Artist, singer-actress Jennifer Lopez said that artists’ voices were needed now. “At this particular point in history, our voices are needed more than ever. This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal,” she said. Popular rap group, A Tribe Called Quest, performed its single “We the people”, which included lyrics telling groups like blacks and Muslims, “You must go.” During the performance, they added: “I want to thank President Agent Orange,” and made a reference to Trump’s immigration order.
