In a heated moment at a Grammy Awards after-party in Los Angeles, singer Janelle Monáe called out rapper Nelly for his recent performance at Donald Trump's presidential inauguration.
During an impromptu performance with Anderson .Paak at Andy's in West Hollywood, Monáe modified the lyrics of Nelly's hit song "Hot in Herre" to express her disapproval. "I used to like Nelly, but then he went to perform for Donald Trump," Monáe rapped, according to video footage obtained by TMZ.
The 39-year-old artist, who had performed earlier that evening during the Quincy Jones tribute at the Grammys, continued her criticism by accusing Nelly of "selling out" and called him a "fool." She emphasized her stance on social issues, stating, "I care about women. I care about Hispanics."
Nelly, 50, had defended his decision to perform at Trump's Liberty Ball in January. In a recent appearance on the Willie D Live podcast, he maintained that his performance wasn't politically motivated, saying, "I respect the office. This isn't politics. The politics, for me, it's over. He won. He's the president."
The incident occurred amid broader conversations about diversity and inclusion in the music industry. Other artists who performed at Trump's inauguration events included Snoop Dogg, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Carrie Underwood, all of whom faced varying degrees of public backlash.
Monáe has previously demonstrated her political activism, notably appearing at the 2017 Women's March where she spoke out against police brutality and advocated for social justice causes.
Neither artist's representatives have responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.