Rockettes chairman encourages concerned dancers to be 'tolerant of intolerance'
Who knew that the New York City Rockettes would become one of American culture's loudest (and most sequined) voices of dissent?
Just prior to Christmas, several of the dancers came forward with concerns about being forced to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration. Though Madison Square Garden Company, who produces the Rockettes, later clarified that the dancers would not be required to perform, the company's executive chairman, James Dolan, recently spoke to concerned dancers and encouraged them to be more "tolerant," according to an exclusive published by Marie Claire.
In the private meeting, Dolan attempted to soothe concerns that performing at the inauguration would pose any major ethical dilemmas for the brand.
"I find it a little ironic—I get all of these emails, too, from people saying, ‘Don’t perform for this hateful person," Dolan reportedly told the group. "And then they proceed to spew out this diatribe of hate.”
"I mean, it just sounds like you’re asking us to be tolerant of intolerance,” one dancer replied.
“Yeah, in a way, I guess we are doing that,” Dolan said. “What other choices do we have? What else would you suggest?”
For Dolan, the Rockettes' performance doesn't mean that the group is politically aligned with Donald Trump, just that they are celebrating the normal transition of power.
"Every four years we put in a new president. It's a huge moment in the country's history," Dolan said. "It usually signifies a whole change in how the government is going to run. The fact that we get to participate in it ... we are an American brand, and I think it's very appropriate that the Rockettes dance in the inauguration and 4th of July and our country's great historical moments."
According to Marie Claire's source, no women of color have signed up to perform at the inauguration.
In a statement released by Barry Watkins, Chief Communications Officer for The Madison Square Garden Company earlier today, Watkins admonished the company for publishing a story that "violated the confidentiality" of Rockettes who thought they were speaking privately.
"While Mr. Dolan stands behind everything he said during the meeting, no one in that room believed they were speaking publicly," the statement reads.
It is currently unclear how many of the Rockettes will be dancing at the inauguration on Jan. 20.
Heather was the Web Trends reporter at Mashable NYC. Prior to joining Mashable, Heather wrote regularly for UPROXX and GOOD Magazine, was published in The Daily Dot and VICE, and had her work featured in Entertainment Weekly, Jezebel, Mic, and Gawker. She loves small terrible dogs and responsible driving. Follow her on Twitter @wear_a_helmet.
