John Legend said Donald Trump is “racist and divisive.”
During a television summit with Variety, the 37-year-old singer talked compared his upcoming drama about slavery with the presidential election. (RELATED: Chrissy Teigen Battles Piers Morgan Over Muhammad Ali ‘Racist’ Comments)
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“We are in a moment now where we have a major candidate for office that is being very racist and divisive,” Legend said. “I feel the need to call that out all the time because I don’t want us to feel like it’s impossible for our nation to go back to another dark place.”
“We, as a nation, can’t go back to a dark place, and it could happen if we let the wrong person into office and impose the wrong regime on this country,” he said. “I’m sure people in 1800s didn’t think they were evil people, but they allowed an evil institution to last for quite a long time.”
“We, as people who believe in equality and diversity and believe that every human being in this life matters, we should be vigilant in making sure that we don’t elect leaders who are contradicting that belief,” he continued.
Legend said he has to be vocal about Trump on Twitter.
“Some people want me to shut up and sing,” he said. “I can’t sit by and let this stuff happen without trying to influence people. It’s worth it to me to pay attention to what’s happening and hold our leadership to account.”