Jewel is explaining why she thinks it’s OK to cozy up to MAGA.
On Saturday, the Grammy-nominated folk singer, full name Jewel Kilcher, posted a video to Instagram in which she responded to fans who were disgusted by her decision to perform at one of President Donald Trump’s inauguration events.
“Let’s talk,” Jewel begins in the clip. “As many of you know, I am a mental health advocate. If there’s anything that I’ve learned in the past 20 years, it’s that mental health affects everybody’s lives across party lines.”
She goes on to say she “reached out to the last administration” to discuss more advocacy for mental health, to no avail.
“If I wait to try until I agree 100% with the people that might be willing to help me, I’d never get off the bench,” she says. “I don’t think that’s how activism works. Waiting until everything’s perfect enough to participate ― it’s actually because things are so imperfect that we have to find ways to engage and to participate, and we have to act now. We cannot wait another four years.”
“I believe there are people in the new administration that are willing to help on this issue,” the singer continues. “I do not agree on all the politics, but if I can help shape policy, make sure mental health is in the conversation when it comes to American health, if I can help put resources or mental health tools into the hands of the most vulnerable who need it, I’m going to try, and I’m going to fight.”
Last week, fans of the “Who Will Save Your Soul” singer were shocked when she delivered a surprise performance at the “Make America Healthy Again” ball hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In a clip posted to X, formerly Twitter, Kennedy teases Jewel’s appearance by telling the crowd they’re in for “a special treat.”
“About a week ago I got a call from a woman who is Cheryl’s favorite musical artist in her whole life,” Kennedy says in the clip, referring to his wife, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” alum Cheryl Hines, who is also on stage. “And she said to me, ‘I want to come and sing to the crowd tonight.’”
Jewel takes the stage and thanks Kennedy for “sacrificing so much to make America healthy again,” before launching into a cover of “Over the Rainbow” — a song that she says “sums up the hope that founded America, and that I think we’re all feeling again.”
Considering that Kennedy has spread anti-vaccine misinformation and other conspiracy theories for decades, many of Jewel’s longtime fans were outraged when clips of her inaugural performance began to circulate on social media. Many fans flooded the comment section of one of Jewel’s latest Instagram posts — which shows her participating in a panel discussion about mental health and the role of artificial intelligence in wellness — to express their disapproval.
“Hanging out with RFK Jr but claiming to care about public health is next level hypocrisy,” one Instagram user wrote.
“How is YOUR mental health, Jewel, knowing you’re supporting a movement that endangers lives and will only increase the despair and suicide rates among LGBTQ+ individuals?” another person commented.
“It’s gross that you would lend your name and talent to celebrate that man and his vile, inhumane movement,” someone else wrote. “Hope the check was worth it.”
The pushback prompted Jewel to release her video on Saturday. In it, she acknowledged the political divide in the U.S. — and sympathized with both sides.
“Half of our country feels hope right now, and I honor that,” she said. “And half of our country feels disenfranchised and scared and vulnerable, and that is unacceptable.”
She then apologized specifically to her fans in the wider LGBTQ community.
“I am so sorry that I caused pain, especially in my LGBTQIA+ community, because you guys are treasures,” Jewel said. “You make the world a better place. You’ve made my life a better place, and I will not stop fighting.”
Trump has already signed at least one executive order that is negatively affecting the LGBTQ+ community.
In her video Saturday, Jewel implored her fans on both sides of the political spectrum to keep everything kumbaya.
“None of us can afford to stop fighting, and I really believe that the only way we change is in relationship,” she said. “It isn’t in isolation or by isolating, it’s by being in relationship, by reaching out, by having hard conversations. And I really hope that we can push through our hurt and move toward understanding on both sides.”
Many people on social media didn’t quite buy Jewel’s rationale for aligning with MAGA. Below, you can see some of the responses to her statement.
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