Terri Nunn Of Berlin Says She Had No Idea Performing At Mar-A-Lago On New Year’s Eve Was A Bad Idea Until Afterward
The only New Year’s Eve concert more disastrous than the time Bonnie Pointer of the Pointer Sisters threw up on stage, mid-song was last week’s COVID-Palooza at Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago headlined by Vanilla Ice, Taylor Dayne, Mike Love’s Beach Boys, and perhaps most surprisingly, Terri Nunn of Berlin. I guess Terri’s check has since cleared because according to Variety, she’s issued a statement apologizing for taking the gig and expressed her “shock” at “Florida and Mar-a-Lago’s lack of regard for the pandemic.” And if that’s not enough to get those eyeballs rolling well into the new year, she also said she could see how it might have “appeared” that her attendance was to “support a political party,” but that was never her intention. She then paid lip-service to the LGBTQ community, and presumably, booked a Duets tour with Katharine McPhee to make up for her unfortunate transgression.
According to Variety:
After coming under continual fire in the four days since she played the New Year’s Eve party at Donald J. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, as the other performers that night have, Terri Nunn of the group Berlin has issued an apology for the controversial gig, saying she didn’t know it would be perceived as taking a political stand, and expressing shock at the lack of COVID protocols at the resort.
“I am truly sorry I performed at Mar-a-Lago and would not have done so if I’d known what I learned while I was there,” Nunn wrote in a social media statement posted under Berlin’s Facebook account. “My goal in performing was not to support a political party. I see now that that’s not the way it appeared and I am apologetic for that as well.”
“The contract stated it was a small Covid-safe event for the members of Mar-a-Lago,” she continued. “Unfortunately it was not Covid-safe anywhere in Florida. I had no idea masks and social distancing were not required. I thought I was current on all Covid news everywhere, but clearly I was not. I was shocked by Florida and Mar-a-Lago’s lack of regard for the pandemic, and if I’d known I would never have gone. Once I fulfilled my contractual obligation, I left the event as quickly as I could. It is a mistake I regret. I took a Covid 19 test yesterday and tested negative.”
Nunn closed her statement by acknowledging that many in the Berlin fan base took her appearance as a betrayal of their values, especially some in the gay community who have become fans as a result of her frequent appearances at Pride festivals.
“My apologies to those in the LGBTQ community who thought my performance was a statement against them,” she wrote. “I have been and always will be fully supportive.”
You know, I get it. After playing a little game of “would you rather?” with myself, I decided that I too would rather have people think I’m a gibbering imbecile who can’t read gud, hasn’t watched the news since 1998, and possibly lives in the back seat of my car since I clearly need the money desperately, than align myself politically with the likes of Vanilla Ice. Apparently, Terri’s Berlin bandmate David Diamond feels the same.
A number of news outlets have reported that "Berlin" played Mar-a-Lago for NYE. I want to make clear that I was not at this show, nor did I ever plan to attend. I spent the evening at my home in #Truckee. Happy new year everyone! -David
— David Diamond (@DAMSurvival) January 2, 2021
Taylor Dayne on the other hand, appears to be on the fence, a baffling place to find oneself these days.
Just, FYI. @taylordayne decided to delete her ludicrous “quote tweet,” but make sure you’re paying attention. And @RealTerriNunn, shame on you, too. #TaylorDayne #TerriNunn #LGBTQ #gay pic.twitter.com/AAHgrWmmpt
— Josh Sabarra (@JoshSabarra) January 2, 2021
Variety adds:
The Mike Love-led Beach Boys, Vanilla Ice and Dayne have also come under similar fire for the last four days, but none have expressed regret over their participation in the maskless event. The president was supposed to preside over the festivities, but opted to return to the White House as his fight to overturn the election intensified; other family members, included Trump’s children, held court in his absence. Photos and videos from the event show attendees posing and reveling as if it were a New Year’s Eve like any other.
Poor Terri. How could she have known that performing at a super-spreader event hosted by a seditious megalomaniac who is actively working to undermine American democracy would ruffle so many feathers?! Hopefully, this won’t stain too badly. I hear Smash Mouth just booked a gig at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia opening for Steven Seagal & Thunderbox!
Pic: Wenn.com