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Singer Jewel is opening up about her decision to perform at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again (aka MAHA) ball honoring President Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
After facing backlash, the “Foolish Games” singer – who performed a rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at Monday’s event — took to Instagram Friday and told her followers that her commitment to addressing the nation’s mental health crisis transcends political divides.
Still, she apologized because she “caused pain,” particularly to her LGBTQIA+ fans, whom she described as “treasures.”
“As many of you know, I am a mental health advocate. If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past 20 years, it’s that mental health affects everybody’s lives across party lines,” Jewel started.
She continued: “I reached out to the last administration, spoke with the surgeon general about the mental health crisis that’s facing our nation. I don’t know if you guys know the stats, but it is bleak.”
“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.”
“It’s actually because things are so imperfect that we have to find ways to engage and to participate. And we have to act now. We cannot wait another four years,” she said.
Though she doesn’t agree with all of the new administration’s policies and ideals, she think there are people in it who are “willing to help on this issue,” such as Kennedy Jr., who recently stepped down from his anti-vaccine nonprofit in the hopes of becoming a world health leader.
“If I can help shape policy, make sure mental health is in the conversation when it comes to American health. If I can help put resources or mental health tools into the hands of the most vulnerable who need it, I’m going to try and I’m going to fight,” she shared.
“And I understand that my words were overly simplistic. Half of our country feels hope right now, and I honor that. And half of our country feels disenfranchised and scared and vulnerable, and that is unacceptable.”
The singer finished her video by telling her fans they “make the world a better place.”
“You’ve made my life a better place. And I will not stop fighting. None of us can afford to stop fighting, and I really believe that the only way we can change is in relationship. It isn’t in isolation or by isolating, it’s by being in relationship, by reaching out, by having hard conversations, and I really hope that we can push through our hurt and move toward understanding on both sides,” She said.
“I want to be a ray of light in this world. I try hard to be a ray of light in your lives,” she continued. “And I know that in times of darkness we must grow light and so I will wake up again tomorrow and try again. And I will count on each of you to do the same.”
“I have so much love and admiration for each of you,” she closed.
While the “Masked Singer” Season 6 winner did not publicly endorse a candidate in the 2024 election, she teased a friendship with RFK Jr. on Jan. 4, when she shared a photo on her Instagram of her with him and two of his kids, Kyra and Conor, at an event supporting Inspiring Children.
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