Liverpool singer Rebecca Ferguson has refused to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The Anfield-born performer, who shot to fame on The X Factor, confirmed last week that she had been approached by the US president-elect’s representatives.
Ferguson insisted that she would only appear in the ceremony at the Capital if she was allowed to perform Billie Holiday’s civil rights anthem ‘Strange Fruit’.
But the 30-year-old has cited ‘many grey areas’ as the reason for her rejection of the request by Trump’s camp to appear in Washington DC on January 20.
She said: “Due to circumstances beyond my control concerning the offer to perform at the Inauguration Concert, I was thrown into the middle of a political arena last week.
“I wasn’t comfortable with the song choice made on my behalf, and although I’m very blessed to have a gift that gives me amazing opportunities, as a mother and an artist, I had to defend my stance.
“That is why I made the decision to sing ‘Strange Fruit’ when I was invited.
“There are many grey areas about the offer for me to perform that I’m unable to share right now, but I will not be singing.
“However, I genuinely wish your nation nothing but love.”