Janelle Monáe Calls Out Nelly at Grammys Afterparty
Janelle Monáe took a strong stance against rapper Nelly for his choice to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration, expressing her disappointment during a recent Grammys afterparty. Monáe openly criticized Nelly, calling him a “motherfucking fool” while the music from his hit song ‘Hot In Herre’ played in the background.
As the sound filled the room, Monáe delivered a powerful message through her freestyle performance. She stated, “Fuck you, Nelly. I used to like Nelly, but then he went to perform for Donald Trump.” Her words resonated with the crowd, highlighting her disapproval of Nelly’s political choices.
Continuing her remarks, Monáe emphasized her commitment to various communities, saying, “I care about women, I care about Hispanics, I care about Spanish people. I care about Mexicans, I care about gay people. You sold out. I used to think you were cool. But now you look like a motherfucking fool.” She didn’t hold back, concluding with a clear message, “Get a new attitude… I might be a little tipsy but I know everything I'm motherfucking saying. Fuck you, Nelly!”
Monáe’s remarks come after Nelly’s performance at the inauguration, which sparked significant backlash and a decline in his streaming numbers. On the day of his inauguration performance, Nelly’s streams fell from 1.63 million the previous week to 1.54 million.
In response to the criticism, Nelly defended his decision by saying, “I didn’t know that I had to agree with your political choices. If you follow what I do, this shouldn’t even be an argument. He is the president. He won.” He mentioned that his performance was an honor, honoring the office of the president regardless of personal beliefs. Nelly added, “The same way our brothers and sisters go to war to put their life on the line for whoever is in office. So, if they can put their life on the line for whoever is in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever is in office.”
During the Grammys, Janelle Monáe also performed alongside Stevie Wonder in a tribute to the legendary Quincy Jones. Her segment included a performance of Michael Jackson’s ‘Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,’ showcasing her talent beyond the controversy.
This year’s Grammy Awards saw Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé as major winners, with Beyoncé making history as the first Black woman to win Album of the Year and Best Country Album for ‘Cowboy Carter.’ Meanwhile, Lamar was awarded Record and Song of the Year for ‘Not Like Us.’
Janelle, Nelly, Grammys