Hamilton actor defends Mike Pence comments after Donald Trump's criticism
Updated
The actor from the hit Broadway musical Hamilton who angered Donald Trump with pointed and rare on-stage remarks to Vice President-elect Mike Pence has said "there's nothing to apologise for".
Key points:
- The Hamilton cast appealed to Mike Pence to ensure he respected diversity
- Donald Trump demanded an apology from the "very rude" cast
- Actor Brandon Victor Dixon is refusing to apologise, says theatre is a place for political and cultural discourse
"We, sir — we — are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights," actor Brandon Victor Dixon said to Mr Pence, who was in the audience, on Friday night.
In a series of weekend Twitter messages, Mr Trump accused the cast of "terrible behaviour," said they "harassed" Mr Pence and demanded that they apologise.
Mr Pence himself later said he was not offended, and declined to ask for an apology.
Dixon has now defended the cast statement, saying the actors wanted "to stand up and spread a message of love and unity" following the bitterly divisive election campaign that culminated in Mr Trump's surprise win on November 8.
"There's nothing to apologise for," Dixon told CBS.
"Conversation is not harassment."
He said Mr Trump was welcome to see the show as well, adding that he appreciated that Mr Pence listened and that "it was the beginning of a conversation that I hope we can continue to have".
"Art is meant to bring people together, it's meant to raise consciousness," Dixon said.
On Sunday, Mr Pence acknowledged that many people were disappointed and anxious after the election, but he sought to reassure Americans that Mr Trump would be a president "for all Americans" when he takes office on January 20.
The victory by the Republican Trump, a New York businessman who has never held public office, has prompted a rash of protests nationwide by people concerned that his tough campaign rhetoric about immigrants and Muslims could translate into abuse of civil rights.
Hamilton recounts the story of Alexander Hamilton, a poor immigrant who rose to become the right-hand man of General George Washington and a key figure in the creation of the US financial system, as well as founding the US Coast Guard. Hamilton was killed in an 1804 duel with Burr.
The hip-hop-infused musical, which a New York Times review described last year as a "show about young rebels grabbing and shaping the future of an unformed country," opened on Broadway in 2015 and has generated more than $1.4 billion in sales and garnered 11 Tony Awards. It has also expanded to other cities.
Reuters
Topics: opera-and-musical-theatre, arts-and-entertainment, world-politics, us-elections, united-states
First posted
