WATCH: Mike Pence Went to See Hamilton on Broadway and Got Booed
The Cast Addressed Pence Directly as the Show Ended
Unreal scene here – Mike Pence walks in and there’s a massive mix of cheers and boos. pic.twitter.com/GVZ5L67mA3
— Noah Coslov (@NoahCoslov) November 19, 2016
Vice President-elect Mike Pence, the head of the Trump transition team, took a break after announcing three top nominees Friday to take in a Broadway show, “Hamilton.” He got booed. And, cheered, a bit.Â
Tonight, VP-Elect Mike Pence attended #HamiltonBway. After the show, @BrandonVDixon delivered the following statement on behalf of the show. pic.twitter.com/Jsg9Q1pMZs
— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 19, 2016
The hit show, which is sold out for months, was created by and starred Lin Manuel Miranda, an award-winning actor, composer, writer, and singer of Puerto Rican descent. It is a tale of the founding fathers and the creation of the United States of America.
The cast, as they themselves told Pence, are exceptionally diverse. Pence is known for his anti-LGBT and anti-women views, and he supports Trump’s anti-immigrant policies and Trump himself, who promotes racism and white nationalists.
At the end of the performance, the cast addressed Pence directly, saying, “We have a message for you sir. We hope that you will hear us out.”
Yes #MikePence was at @HamiltonMusical here’s what we had to say pic.twitter.com/YIjt7JZ3gF
— G R E G O R Y (@ghaney22) November 19, 2016
“We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new adminstration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us – all of us.â€
Reminder that the current star of Hamilton is the incomparable Javier Muñoz, an openly gay, openly HIV-positive actor. Pay attention, Pence.
— Marc Snetiker (@MarcSnetiker) November 19, 2016
Some denounced the booing of the incoming vice president, while others noted his policy stances made the booing well-deserved:
*Mike Pence wants to electrocute gay kids straight*
*Mike Pence gets booed at Hamilton*
“Well that’s just disrespectful”
— Gabe OrtÃz (@TUSK81) November 19, 2016
For those swooning over “disrespect” Hamilton audience showed Pence, let’s not forget new natsec adviser said “Lock her up” on RNC stage
— Stuart Elliott (@stuartenyt) November 19, 2016
“Mike Pence let people die of AIDS because he found needle exchange programs morally questionable. But please be nice to him at Hamilton.”
— German Lopez (@germanrlopez) November 19, 2016
Asking people to be respectful of those who ran on a platform of bigotry seems a bit much. But hopefully Pence learned from Hamilton.
— Clara Jeffery (@ClaraJeffery) November 19, 2016
Two things you need to understand about Mike Pence getting booed at Hamilton tonight. 1) Most attendees aren’t NYCers. 2) He deserves it. >
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) November 19, 2016
Mike Pence went to see Hamilton tonight. You don’t get to hate the gays and then watch them perform.
— Meghan O’Malley (@MegsOMalls) November 19, 2016
Two New York Times reporters denounced the booing via Twitter:
He’s also the VP-elect. A level of disrespect https://t.co/Xgfbb0EpBH
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 19, 2016
Pence getting booed at Hamilton bums me out. Whatever you think of him. He’s trying to engage. Could get ideas from far worse places. https://t.co/gn7j25Nuy7
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) November 19, 2016
Both later fielded criticisms. One apologized:
I’m sorry, everyone. Thanks to anyone who wrote back or retweeted, in whatever form. I hope I do better next time.
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) November 19, 2016
More responses via Twitter:
Pence seeing Hamilton at this point in history is like if Goebbels dropped in to see Fiddler on the Roof
— Lucas Kavner (@Lucaskavner) November 19, 2016
Another theatergoer w/ Pence at “Hamilton” tells me there was “massive, extended applause at ‘Immigrants, we get the job done'” line
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 19, 2016
I think we are learning that when a party and their candidate shatters norms the norms tend to get shattered.
— Sam Seder (@SamSeder) November 19, 2016
Mike Pence could have used a few more boos earlier in his career. It might have made him less of a holier-than-thou sanctimonious jerk.
— John Aravosis (@aravosis) November 19, 2016
You know what’s worse than getting booed? Every single thing Mike Pence stands for.
— John Aravosis (@aravosis) November 19, 2016
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