‘Hamilton’ Politics: Cast Member Brandon Victor Dixon, VP-elect And The Pushback
The pushback continues on political remarks made at the end of a Broadway production of Hamilton on Friday night from a cast member towards the Republican vice president-elect in the crowd.
It is dramatic in its own right, but as folks have taken to social media to express their thoughts on the matter, now it seems even President-elect Donald Trump wants an apology. But the Hamilton cast politics have elicited some creative commentary on social media. A humorous tweet from Lori Hendry points out another bad theater moment in American political history.
https://twitter.com/Lrihendry/status/800510794245046273
So, what did the Hamilton cast member who portrays Vice President Aaron Burr (Brandon Victor Dixon) say to Mike Pence, the Republican vice president-elect?
Dixon encouraged theatergoers to film and tweet his message, per Chris Sanchez of Business Insider. He began by calling Pence out as he exited after the play ended.
“Vice President-elect Pence I see you walking out, but I hope you will hear us just a few more moments. There’s nothing to boo here ladies and gentlemen. We have a message for you sir. We hope that you will hear us out. I encourage everyone to pull out your phones and tweet because this message needs to be spread far and wide.”
But Dixon’s statements seemed a benign thing. Another tweet, from 2012 apparently, came from Lin-Manuel Miranda, and it may add fuel to the fire.
A Trump board game from 1989, before he became our First National F*ckface. http://t.co/qHHOg1mF
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 3, 2012
That Instagram image is no longer showing, though, so Lin-Manuel’s likely not going to be tarred and feathered as described on the U.S. history post. At worst, it seems he risks being tweeted at and argued with by disgruntled voters who already may be aware that the Hamilton creator and cast have done some fundraising for Hillary Clinton, per the story posted over at Billboard.
Some are not surprised, per the tweet on this subject of partisanship, politics and the theater.
Has everyone forgotten about the big Hamilton Fundraiser for Hillary? Post show rant no surprise. https://t.co/RBj4QCacNE
— Jeff Martin (@JeffMartinMedia) November 20, 2016
Cast member Brandon Victor Dixon “…urged Pence and President-elect Donald Trump to embrace minorities and work to represent them in the White House,” per the report from Chris Sanchez over at Business Insider. Nevertheless, musician Steven Van Zandt considered the remarks from the stage as a sort of “bullying.”
“It was the most respectful, benign form of bullying ever. But bullying nonetheless." https://t.co/D4sib8Ufz6
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) November 21, 2016
The Hamilton cast remarks also included this bit from Dixon to Pence.
“We sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, out children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir.”
The cast member Dixon went on from that to comment on American values.
“But we truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us. All of us.”
And news from The Guardian reports that President-elect Trump wants an apology from the cast of Hamilton. Writer Joanna Walters based in New York includes a tweet in her story.
The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016
While the reactions continue from the incident, at least one writer for the Washington Free Beacon sees another issue in the Hamilton cast lecturing the Vice President-elect as he walked out with his family. Chandler Gill writes that some of the hit musical’s stars who opted to express their “fears about the incoming administration have not voted in past elections for years, according to voting records.”
Seth Stewart, Javier Munoz and Okieriete “Oak” Onaodowan have apparently missed out on casting their votes prior to this election cycle per the article.
Regarding actor Dixon, media analyst Gill writes this:
“Four years ago, however, Dixon did not vote during President Obama’s reelection campaign, public records show.”
So while the Hamilton cast members likely thought to take advantage of Pence being in the Broadway crowd, perhaps they did not see themselves as being bullies towards Pence and his family at the theater, it’s also likely Donald Trump felt his VP needed some assurance that the President-elect is watching out for him, too.
[Featured Image by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Images]
