The above Tweet is hilarious and sort of sad, because it seems patently not true, at least based on the celebrities declining to perform at Trump's inauguration, who are legion. Barack Obama had Aretha Franklin at his first inauguration and Beyonce at his second. Trump's inauguration will feature Jackie Evancho, who finished second on the America's Got Talent, and the Rockettes. I present this information with all due respect. I'm sure whoever performs at Trump's inauguration will be excellent professional entertainers, but they're also not Beyonce.The so-called 'A' list celebrities are all wanting tixs to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary, NOTHING. I want the PEOPLE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)December 23, 2016
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- December 22nd: Rockettes management announces the company will perform. Immediately, there's an online backlash against the move. One dancer posted an Instagram rant (now deleted), saying the decision to perform for "a man that stands for everything we're against is appalling."
- December 23rd: The union gets involved.
- December 27th: The Rockettes meet with James L. Dolan, the CEO of Madison Square Garden, the parent company of the Rockettes and the New York Knicks, Rangers, and Liberty.
- January 3rd: Marie Claire publishes a piece that includes quotes from Dolan that were apparently recorded in secret during the December 27th meeting. Dolan's comments were largely about money. He spoke of his considerable investment in the Rockettes and of the need to sell tickets, dismissing the notion that associating the dance troupe with Trump would be bad for business: "A good portion of people voted for this person. Hopefully they will like our brand. If 1% of 1% of them come to our show, we're going to do great." The MSG company immediately puts out a press release, condemning the secret recording and the publication of quotes taken from it. It reads, in part: "Everyone in the meeting had the chance to speak their mind in a safe setting, and many did. Her secret recording was deceitful and cowardly and has betrayed all of her fellow Rockettes. Posting this story is beneath the ethical standards of Hearst. We are deeply disappointed in their decision to post this story."