After facing significant backlash over his participation in an LGBTQ+ Republican fundraiser, rapper Chingy has withdrawn from the event.
Chingy (real name Howard Bailey Jr.), known for hits like ‘Right Thurr’, had been set to perform at the ‘Red, White, and Rock’ fundraiser—a Republican event supporting LGBTQ+ conservatives.
Over the weekend, the rapper responded to critics who questioned his involvement in the concert, stating, “MY JOB IS TO PERFORM AND I GET PAID TO PERFORM, NOT CAURR ABOUT POLITICS,” on social media.
The Nashville-based event, scheduled for September 29, features several MAGA figures, including Donald Trump Jr. However, with just days to go, the rapper appears to have had second thoughts about his appearance.
“YOU KNO WHAT JUS CAUSE I DONT WANT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MESS. I HAVE DECLINED PERFORMING AND NO IM MOT A TRUMP SUPPORTER NOR SUPPORTER OF ANYONE ELSE BUT CHINGY. THURR YOU HAVE IT,” Chingy commented on an Instagram post by Baller Alert.
As of this report, event organisers have yet to address Chingy’s sudden withdrawal.
This is not the first time the rapper has sparked controversy for his perceived support of Donald Trump. During Trump’s 2016 presidential run, Chingy openly shared on Twitter that he had voted for the then-businessman. However, he later retracted the statement following public outcry.
Chingy explained to Billboard at the time, “I didn’t know about some of the negative things he had to say about some of the races out here and about the hip-hop community. I didn’t know a lot of the negative things, I was kind of commenting off reading that article and reading some of the good things that he said.”
Following the backlash, Chingy clarified his stance with a video titled ‘I DO NOT endorse Donald Trump’ and further explained his position in an interview with MTV.
