Thursday, July 5, 2018

The Whole World Does Not Revolve Around Celebrities


WaPo Mocks Trump By Saying No Stars Are Performing At 4th of July White House Concert

Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images

On Wednesday, The Washington Post mocked President Trump because most major stars were not performing at the White House Independence Day celebration.
Noting that comedian Jimmy Fallon, the Foo Fighters and singer Michelle Branch performed at former president Barack Obama’s first Fourth of July celebration at the White House in 2009, the Post gushed, “Performing at the White House is like a really big deal. At least it was during the Obama years, when marquee names lined up to take the hot summer stage on the South Lawn with the Mall’s storied fireworks display going off in the background.”
The Post notes that the event is “organized by the USO for more than a thousand military troops and their families,” then continues:
Big arena acts such as the Killers, Cedric the Entertainer, Brad Paisley, Pitbull, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, Janelle Monae and more have performed at the White House’s barbecue, concert and firework viewing party, which is organized by the USO for more than a thousand military troops and their families. That was then.
Then, the mockery: “This year, taking the stage will be . . . two ‘American Idol' finalists. As in, not actual winners. Ever heard of Jax? Jonny Brenns? Not ringing a bell? You’re not alone. “
The Post mocks country singer Sara Evans, who will perform at the White House, writing that her “last hit was back when ‘Lost’ was still on the air (that was 2010, for the record, if you can remember that far back).”
The Post notes that Jax, who it snarkily notes “finished third on ‘American Idol’ in 2015,” has been vilified on social media for performing at the White House this year. Jax responded to the insults hurled at her by tweeting:

I would have jumped at the chance to perform for any president. It’s an honor & once in a lifetime opportunity to perform at the White House for a military event, given that my brother is a Marine & father a 9/11 first responder. Telling me to burn in hell seems counterproductive https://twitter.com/djelove/status/1011610765982359552 
Classical pianist Lola Astanova, also performing at the Independence Day concert, told Women’s Wear Daily, “This day goes beyond one president. It’s a way to pay tribute to our troops. That’s really what this concert is about. Presidents come and go, but the Fourth of July and the celebration of our country is really what this event is about. It’s an honor to perform the national anthem at the White House on Independence Day. As a first-generation American, it’s quite meaningful.”
The Post concluded:
Just a mile and a half away from the South Lawn, a slew of celebs will be performing at PBS’s annual “A Capitol Fourth.” That event, hosted by John Stamos and airing live at the same time as the White House event, airs on PBS, will showcase the Beach Boys, Pentatonix, Jimmy Buffett and the cast of his Broadway show “Escape to Margaritaville,” Chita Rivera, Luke Combs, the Temptations and more. Perhaps next year Jimmy Fallon could dust off his 10-year-old act for the Trumps’ celebration. But . . . probably not.
Enjoy the mockery, Post, because there are a hell of a lot of us who don’t worship at the altar of celebrity.
And we vote.

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