Looks like Donald Trump isn’t getting his way. Brandon V. Dixon continued to defend the Hamilton cast’s statement to Vice President-elect Mike Pence after the curtain call at the Friday, November 18, show.
The actor, who plays Aaron Burr in the hit play, appeared on CBS This Morning on Monday, November 21, to stand up for the passionate speech he read to the politician as Pence was exiting the theater. “The producers and creatives and the cast, we all recognize that Hamilton is an inherently American story told by the definition of an American community,” he said on the talk show. “We are men, women of different colors, creeds and orientations. You know, the resonant nature of the show throughout the world, throughout the global community, demands that we make statements when there are important issues facing us as a community. So we wanted to stand up and spread a message of love and of unity considering all the emotional outpour since the election.”
Since Dixon addressed the Indiana governor, 57, on Friday, the president-elect, 70, has demanded on Twitter that the cast of the “highly overrated” musical apologize to his VP. “Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton,” Trump tweeted on Saturday. “Apologize!” Trump supporters even called for a boycott of the smash Broadway show, and the #boycotthamilton hashtag trended on Twitter.
Dixon’s response: “There’s nothing to apologize for.” The Broadway star explained, “Conversation is not harassment, and I was appreciative that Vice President-elect Mike Pence stood there and listened to what we had to say. I know some people have said a one-sided conversation or a lecture is not conversation, but it was the beginnings of a conversation I hope that we can continue to have.”
The Tony Award nominee, 35, also said that everyone at Hamilton would love for the ex-Apprentice host to check out their musical. “We welcome Donald Trump here at Hamilton, absolutely,” he said.
As previously reported, Dixon told Pence and the crowd, “We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our friends, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights. But we truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.”
Pence later praised Hamilton in an interview with Fox News’ Chris Wallace. “Hamilton is just an incredible production and incredibly talented people. It was a real joy to be there,” he said on Sunday. “And in the end, I did hear what was said from the stage and I can tell you — I wasn’t offended by what was said. I’ll leave to others whether that was the appropriate venue to say it.”
