Jewel is defending her polarizing choice to perform at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Inauguration Day ball while apologizing to those whose feelings she may have hurt in the process.
In an Instagram video posted Friday (Jan. 24), the singer/songwriter explained that her appearance at the politician’s “Make America Healthy Again” event four days prior had been in line with her work as a “mental health advocate,” noting that she’d previously worked with “the last administration” to discuss mental health policy.
“Mental health affects everybody’s lives across party lines,” Jewel says in the clip. “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. I don’t think that’s how activism works, waiting until everything’s perfect enough to participate. … We have to act now. We cannot wait another four years.
“I believe there are people in the new administration who are willing to help on this issue,” she continued, emphasizing that she doesn’t “agree with all of the politics” RFK Jr. has championed. “If I can help shape policy, make sure mental health is in the conversation … I’m going to try and I’m going to fight.”
On the same day Donald Trump was sworn into his second White House term, Kennedy — whom the president appointed as his cabinet’s secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services — was honored at the Make America Healthy Again Inaugural Ball. Jewel, who started her Inspiring Children Foundation to target youth mental health issues more than two decades ago, performed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” for the gathering.
RFK Jr. is controversial for a number of reasons, including his anti-vaccine sentiments and platforming of various health-related conspiracies. To the people who were upset over her choice to align herself with the politician, Jewel said, “I am so sorry that some of my longtime fans feel I’ve let them down.”
“I am so sorry I caused pain,” she added. “Especially the LGBTQIA community, because you guys are treasures. You make the world a better place.”
See Jewel’s post below.
