R&B artist Chrisette Michele has opened up, addressing why she was canceled for her controversial performance at the 2016 presidential inauguration and her road to recovery 

In a YouTube video, which premiered on June 10, Michele explained her reasoning for singing at Donald Trump’s inauguration while on singer-songwriter Terrell Grice’s talk showThe Terrell Show.

“It was the wrong thing to do” the 38-year-old admitted of her performance. 

Together the two discussed the widespread outrage and irritation from the Black community when it was revealed that Michele agreed to perform at Trump’s inauguration.  

The songstress went on to say her downfall was a result of her needing validation from others.  

“I don’t regret it. I learned a lot,” Michele said. “I learned a lot about myself, I learned a lot about my fears…my insecurities. I didn’t know I was that insecure until I was rejected.”   

Grice, who is known for using his catchphrase “Careful!” to joke with his guests while they flex their vocal range, told Michele he was going to “start with the hard stuff,” a clear-cut nod to the 2016 controversy.    

“I’m only going to tell the truth,” Michele responded, before moving straight to it. 

After her performance, Michele immediately faced mounts of verbal criticism, as Blavity previously reported.

Michele began to question the result of how she was ultimately treated afterward. 

“What was Travis Greene’s intention? Because his album became No. 1,” Michele said on the show, highlighting that what happened to her music career panned out much differently for Greene, a Black male gospel singer who also performed at the inauguration.  

The downfall of her musical popularity shined a bright light on the misogyny Black women, particularly ones in the music industry, face even by their own community. Grice chimed in saying that Black women get hurt too often because they aren’t afforded equal opportunities.   

“Keep it consistent,” he said.