Billy Ray Cyrus breaks silence after ‘trainwreck’ performance at Donald Trump inauguration amid backlash
Billy Ray Cyrus has come out swinging in defence of his widely panned performance at Donald Trump’s inaugural Liberty Ball, declaring he “wouldn’t have missed the honour” despite technical difficulties that plagued the show.
The 62-year-old country singer faced widespread mockery following his appearance at the Washington Convention Center, where he performed hits including “Old Town Road” and “Achy Breaky Heart”.
It was one of three balls, held after the day’s swearing-in ceremony, that the newly inaugurated president would attend.
Cyrus, Jason Aldean, and the Air Force Band were set to perform before the stage would be handed over to Trump, his family, and Vice President Vance.
However, the Achy Breaky Heart hitmaker’s apparent poor lip-syncing, strange behaviour, dishevelled appearance, and a spate of technical issues quickly soured the tone of the evening for many.
Even while being roundly mocked for the disastrous set, Cyrus almost immediately attempted to record straight.
“I wouldn’t have missed the honour of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not. I was there because President Donald J. Trump invited me,” Cyrus told People defiantly.
He continued: “I had a ball at the Liberty Ball last night and I’ve learned through all these years when the producer says, ‘You’re on,’ you go entertain the folks even if the equipment goes to hell.
“I was there for the people and we had a blast. That’s called rock n roll!!!” the 63-year-old exclaimed.
The equipment “going to hell” first began during Cyrus’ performance of Old Town Road where his electric guitar appeared to lose all sound.
“Is my guitar still on? I think they cut me off. I don’t hear my guitar anymore,” the singer was heard saying on stage.
Growing increasingly frustrated, Cyrus called out to the crew: “Is anyone awake?”
The situation deteriorated further as he continued to struggle with the equipment, asking: “Can somebody turn my guitar back on? We’re going to sing a bit more.”
At one point, a visibly irritated Cyrus asked the audience: “Y’all want me to sing more or you just want me to get the hell off the stage? I don’t give a damn.”
Things went from bad to worse when the stage lights shut down, plunging the Kentuckian musician into pitch darkness.
For several minutes, Cyrus’s silhouette was seen wandering in confusion around the stage as ushers could be seen quickly marching to his aid.
The 63-year-old eventually found his way off stage but had already unleashed an avalanche of viral reactions.
The social media backlash was swift and severe, with one user describing it as “possibly the cringiest few minutes in entertainment history”.
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“Who signed off on Billy Ray Cyrus performing tonight? They should be fired immediately. This is awful,” another viewer declared.
A third empathised: “So embarrassed for Billy Ray Cyrus right now…”
“It was the most painful thing I’ve ever had to endure in my life. And I once broke both my legs. This was worse,” a fourth despaired.
“I’m embarrassed for you @billyraycyrus. This is a disgrace to our President and our country get off stage,” wrote one Trump supporter. (sic)