Shania Twain and other celebs who've had a love-hate relationship with Donald Trump
This has become something of a trend: first comes the comment, then comes the awkwardness, then comes an apology and finally there is a sense of deja vu.
The Canadian singer Shania Twain may have apologized for her remark on US President Donald Trump which upset her fans, but she isn't the first celeb to have trodden the path.
Here's a recap. In a profile interview with The Guardian, the singer candidly discussed her divorce as well as her traumatic upbringing, which included being sexually and physically abused by her stepfather. But towards the end of the article, she was asked about the US election and she said she “would have voted for [Trump] because, even though he was offensive, he seemed honest”.
Her prompt response was quoted widely, “Do you want straight or polite? Not that you shouldn’t be able to have both. If I were voting, I just don’t want bullshit. I would have voted for a feeling that it was transparent. And politics has a reputation of not being that, right?”
The headline of the article read; "Shania Twain on abuse, betrayal and finding her voice: ‘I wanted a break – but not for 15 years.'" Her quote on Trump was only towards the end but people and news outlets were quick to spot it and share it widely on social media. When the 52-year-old country singer realized how upset her fans were, she took to Twitter to clarify her statement.
"I would like to apologize to anybody I have offended,” she wrote. “The question caught me off guard. As a Canadian, I regret answering this unexpected question without giving my response more context."
Three more tweets followed to her four part Twitter series.
"I am passionately against discrimination of any kind and hope it’s clear from the choices I have made, and the people I stand with, that I do not hold any common moral beliefs with the current President," she explained. "I was trying to explain, in response to a question about the election, that my limited understanding was that the President talked to a portion of America like an accessible person they could relate to, as he was NOT a politician," she wrote further.
Admitting her answer was rather awkward and that she only has good intention, she added; "My answer was awkward, but certainly should not be taken as representative of my values nor does it mean I endorse him. I make music to bring people together. My path will always be one of inclusivity, as my history shows."
She might have felt hated at that moment but she isn't the only celebrity to have had that experience. Here is a list of celebrities who supported Donald Trump, some even took delightful pictures with him, and then regretted.
1. Snoop Dogg
The 46-year-old rapper left no room for doubt which side of the fence he was on, when he said in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel that Donald Trump is the "devil".
Renewing his beef with Donald Trump that started on March 2016, when the controversial ‘BADBADNOTGOOD’ video emerged, which depicted Snoop pulling a gun on a man closely resembling Trump. The President fired back on Twitter, claiming that Snoop wouldn’t have got away with it if the video was aimed at former President Obama.
“Can you imagine what the outcry would be if Snoop Dogg, failing career and all, had aimed and fired the gun at President Obama?” Trump wrote. “Jail time!”
But rewind a decade back, Donald Trump and Snoop Dogg were really good friends. In 2007, The Apprentice host gushed over the 'Doggystyle' rapper and emphasized that he is a "really really really good friend".
Trump had only praises and admiration for Snoop. "You know Snoop Dogg? He's the greatest," he beamed. "One of the nation's best-selling hip-hop artists." Trump also praised Snoop's business instincts.
But by 2011, things had gone sour between the two. Snoop hammered Trump with a slew of insults during his time onstage in Comedy Central.
"I wish I had half your money but for that you need a 20-year-old's p---y and a divorce lawyer," joked Snoop.
He commented on Donald Trump's aspiration to run for the president; "Donald's saying he wants to run for president and move into the White House. Why not? It wouldn't be the first time you've pushed a black family out of their home."
2. Kanye West
Kanye West was one of the most visible supporters of Donald Trump when he was running for president. Looks like he still is, but he had his moments of doubts that require mention.
During the elections when Kanye was on his Saint Pablo tour, he announced on stage, "I told y’all I didn’t vote, right?” he said. “But if I would’ve voted, I would’ve voted for Trump.”
In December 2016, West visited Trump Tower in Manhattan to meet with the then-president-elect a few weeks after being hospitalized for “temporary psychosis.”
The two posed for photos in the lobby, and Trump said they had discussed “life.” West later dropped a series of tweets, saying they spoke about “multicultural issues.” He added: “I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change.”
And after only two weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency, Kanye West deleted all of his tweets about Trump. According to TMZ, he was unhappy with Trump’s Muslim ban.
But recently when Kanye returned back to Twitter, he posted a series of tweets, including one which liked the way conservative black activist Candace Owens thought.
"I love the way Candace Owens thinks," Kanye said in one of his comeback tweets.
Owen has often spoke out against Black Lives Matter, and was once quoted as saying, "Police brutality is not an issue that is facing the black community whatsoever."
This didn't go down well with many supporters. Neither did a series of tweets of video clips by cartoonist Scott Adams, a vocal supporter of Trump.
On April 23, Kanye West doubled up in his role as a 2016 Trump supporter as he went on to declare, "I do love Donald Trump," on 'Ebro in the Morning'.
The co-host of the show tweeted that Kanye West is still an avid Donald Trump fan and any hopes of changing his mind is futile.
But since the-soon-to-be author has changed his mind before, he may delete these tweets too, you never know.
3. Caitlyn Jenner
The only other member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan to have supported and actually voted for Trump was Caitlyn Jenner. The 68-year-old is a long time Republican and did not want Hillary Clinton to become president. “Oh my God yes I would never ever, ever vote for Hillary,” Caitlyn said in March 2016 of E!. “We’re done. If Hillary becomes president, the country is over.”
But before Trump became the Republican nominee, Jenner said she wasn’t a fan of his macho attitude. But she did say Trump would be “very good” for women’s issues. Ultimately, she voted for him, saying that she believes in Republican principles. However, it didn’t take long for Jenner to double take on this.
In July 2017, Trump announced that transgender Americans would not be allowed to serve in the military. Jenner was not happy, telling TMZ, “What he’s doing to our community is absolutely f***ing awful.” She also released a statement on her website saying that everyone should be outraged by this show of disrespect. She went on to promise she would get rid of her Make America Great Again hat, possibly by burning it.
4. Aaron Carter
In February 2016, pop star Aaron Carter went on Twitter and wrote, “Does America want to have a president who FOLLOWS or someone who leads? I vote For @realdonaldtrump.”
It did not even take until the election for Carter to have regrets and deleting the tweet.
Two months later, Carter decided he wouldn’t be supporting Trump after all. He tweeted, “I have decided I will not be voting for Donald Trump. I’ve seen a lot and to ME. it’s just something I can’t take part in. Too many reasons.”
Then, in October 2016, Carter again clarified that he would not vote for Trump.
5. Tom Brady
As soon as Trump began running for president, Tom Brady declared that the businessman was a good friend of his. And then in September 2015, he told CNN that it would be great if Trump won the election. Even though he told reporters that he hopes Trump wins, he later said that this was not an official endorsement and that he doesn’t know who he’s going to vote for.
However, Brady ended up turning his back on Trump in September 2017 after the president got into a feud with the NFL players over kneeling during the national anthem.
“Yeah, I certainly disagree with what he said. I thought it was just divisive,” Brady said of Trump’s comments. “Like I said, I just want to support my teammates.”
6. Azealia Banks
In September 2015, rapper Azealia Banks said that she agreed with Trump on immigration. She posted on Instagram:
"Is it bad that I sort of agree with Trump’s stance on immigration? Not for any reason other than black Americans still not having been paid reparations for slavery and the influx of INTERNATIONAL immigrants (not just Mexicans) are sucking up the state aid, and government money, space in schools, quality of life etc.??? It’s selfish, but America has really been good at convincing me that everyone else’s problems are more important than my own. I want my fucking money. Me first. Thoughts?"
Azealia Banks performs for fans during Splendour in the Grass on July 25, 2015 in Byron Bay, Australia. (Photo by Cassandra Hannagan/Getty Images)
But two months later, Banks expressed regret for supporting Trump, tweeting that she agreed with Trump on one issue but thinks he’s an idiot now. She said in a series of tweets that have since been deleted, “He’s truly embarrassing the Gemini community right now. Way worse than I ever have … And that is saying ALOT. I hereby announce, on behalf of the entire Gemini community that Donald Trump is disqualified."
Later, she said she would vote for Donald Trump because he’s horrible and America deserves a horrible president. Then, in October 2016, Banks said on Facebook that she had made a “major mistake” by supporting Trump. But after Trump won the election, Banks said she was proud of him. And after he became president, she defended his travel ban. She confused us but ultimately regretted.
7. Dave Chappelle
The comedian voted for Hillary Clinton. But after Trump won, Chappelle appeared on Saturday Night Live and encouraged everyone to back the new president.
“I’m gonna wish Donald Trump luck, and I’m going to give him a chance, and we the historically disenfranchised demand that he give us one too,” he said.
However, four months later at the Robin Hood New York City benefit, he apologized for asking people to give Trump a chance.
“I was the first guy on TV to say ‘Give Trump a chance.’ I f–ked up. Sorry,” Chappelle said.
8. Cynthia Nixon
In a bizarre twist of fate, the celebrity who is running for New York's governor received her first Emmy Awards from Donald Trump. Cynthia Nixon won her first Emmy award in 2004, Donald Trump was the presenter. When the picture surfaced after she announced her candidature, she told Variety: “Do I wish I had gotten my Emmy from somebody else? Yes, I do. Absolutely I do. But, it’s not like he picked me. He just passed off the trophy.”
The 51-year-old went on the Wendy Williams show and said upsetting victory of Donald Trump in the presidential election was the inspiration behind her decision to run for the governor of New York. The Sex and the City alum said she wants New York to be "an alternative to Donald Trump."
But prior to that, it has been said that Cynthia Nixon had only nice things to say about Donald Trump. The actress turned politician is also quoted in Ivanka Trump's book. But now, she is only about mocking Trump's presidency.
9. Clay Aiken
And a final mention to American Idol musician and former Celebrity Apprentice contestant, who despite being a Democrat, defended Trump when he was called a racist. However, Aiken now regrets this.
In the brutally honest tweet, Aiken calls himself a dumbass and apologizes.