Donald Trump Demands ‘Hamilton’ Cast Apologize to ‘Harassed’ Mike Pence
President-elect Donald Trump demanded that the cast of “Hamilton” apologize to Mike Pence after he attended the Broadway show Friday night. The vice president-elect was booed by the audience at the Richard Rodgers theatre, and addressed directly by the cast onstage after the performance.
“Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!,” Trump tweeted Saturday morning. “The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!”
As Pence found his seat in the theater Friday, the audience booed loudly, while a few supporters clapped. The show was interrupted several times due to applause and cheering, according to those in the theater.
Cast-member Brandon Victor Dixon addressed Pence after the performance while the rest of the cast stood in a line behind him holding hands.
“There is nothing to boo here, ladies and gentleman… we are all here sharing a story of love,” he said, then to Pence: “Vice President-elect Pence, we welcome you and we truly thank you for joining us at ‘Hamilton: An American Musical.’ 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. But we hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values, and work on behalf of all of us.”
“Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted early Saturday morning that he was “proud” of Dixon and the cast, and “proud to remind you that ALL are welcome at the theater.”
Dixon responded Saturday morning to Trump’s tweets that Pence was harassed by writing, “conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen.”
Pence has a record of strongly opposing gay rights. “Hamilton” is a show about a Founding Father featuring homosexuals, immigrants, revolutionaries, and people of color.
Tonight, VP-Elect Mike Pence attended #HamiltonBway. After the show, @BrandonVDixon delivered the following statement on behalf of the show. pic.twitter.com/Jsg9Q1pMZs
— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 19, 2016
Someone I know was at Hamilton tonight, with Mike Pence pic.twitter.com/5zP1LOURHU
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) November 19, 2016
Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016
The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016
Proud of @HamiltonMusical. Proud of @BrandonVDixon, for leading with love.
And proud to remind you that ALL are welcome at the theater.— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 19, 2016
@realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen.
— Brandon Victor Dixon (@BrandonVDixon) November 19, 2016
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