Shots Fired! Hamilton Cast Addresses Special Guest VP-Elect Mike Pence

The world turned upside down at Friday night’s performance of the hit Broadway musical, Hamilton, when Vice President elect Mike Pence took his seat. He was appropriately met with the sound of boos, and perhaps one or two cheers.

It didn’t take long for word to get out on the interwebs, with photos and video uploaded straight to social media.

Following the performance, Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr, stepped forward to acknowledge their retreating special guest.  After insisting to the jeering crowd that “There was nothing to boo here. We’re all here sharing a story of love,” Dixon proceeded to address VP-Elect Pence on behalf of the colorful production:

“We, sir — 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,” he said. “We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.”

It didn’t take long for President-elect (we still have trouble saying it) Donald Trump to put in his two cents and demand an apology from the cast.

Of course, it didn’t take long for the dragging to begin.  Fury and contention of Black Twitter, Broadway, liberals, and just plain ol’ Trump opposers who could not be here for the white tears of a man, a campaign, who THRIVED on the booing, harassment and belittling of the very people who stood on that Hamilton stage last night.  Every SINGLE performer (and most of the themes) in Hamilton represent something that Trump’s campaign vehemently opposed and attempted to oppress, so it is no wonder why those very people insist on being heard.

#BoycottHamilton is now trending on Twitter. Naturally, that’s easy to do when tickets are sold out into 2018.

And of course the hypocrisy is LAUGHABLE.  400+ hate crimes across America go unresolved, but Trump gets his panties in a bunch for a Black man who gets on stage with nothing but respect, intelligence and a call to action.  Nice to know what we’re in for.

Theater has always been a space for the voice of the unheard.  From Shakespeare to Shuffle Along, the stage is where we tell our story.  Following the results of this tumultuous election, there is no doubt artistic anarchy is on the rise.  Freedom of speech is a thing, Mr. Trump. Just you wait.