Lauren Daigle Booted From Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve Celebration After Publicly Worshipping God
By Movieguide® Staff
Christian artist Lauren Daigle, beloved by both believing and non-believing fans, was reportedly removed from the annual DICK CLARK’S NEW YEAR’S ROCKIN’ EVE broadcast lineup after the mayor of New Orleans complained via letter.
Democratic New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell penned a letter to Amy Thurlow, president of Dick Clark Productions, and expressed “urgent concerns” about allowing Daigle to perform in the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebration.
Cantrell’s concerns were motivated by Daigle’s participation in a LET US WORSHIP rally that took place in New Orleans earlier this year.
The final result of the mayor’s letter to Dick Clark Productions resulted in “a decision by Dick Clark Productions to Pull Lauren Daigle from the lineup and any celebration from Louisiana to be broadcast worldwide.”
However, the show will go forward as usual, with only Daigle missing from the slate.
“I cannot in good conscience support the involvement of singer Lauren Daigle, who just last month participated in an unpermitted live performance which placed my residents in danger and threatened the tremendous progress New Orleans has made in combating the COVID-19 pandemic,” Cantrell wrote in the letter.
As Cantrell’s letter states, Daigle performed at the LET US WORSHIP rally, led by worship leader Sean Feucht, in New Orleans’ French Quarter on Nov. 7. The event took place as a peaceful protest against new COVID-19 restrictions placed upon houses of worship.
“Ms. Daigle cannot and should not be rewarded with national media and a public spotlight,” the letter continued. “She harmed our people, she risked the lives of our residents, and she strained our first responders in a way that is unconscionable—in the midst of a public health crisis. That is not who we are, and she cannot be allowed to represent New Orleans or the people she willfully endangered.”
According to a NOLA.com report, Daigle’s participation was a spur of the moment decision: “… her participation [with Feucht onstage] was not advertised in advance; it was spontaneous. They say she was riding by on her bicycle, believed the event to be legitimate because of the presence of police and barricades, and accepted an invitation from Feucht, a longtime acquaintance from the Christian music world, to sing.”
Although Daigle has not yet made a public statement regarding the matter, Louisiana’s Republican Atty. Gen. Jeff Landry came to the singer’s defense. According to Landry, the attack is due to Daigle’s faith.
Landry confirmed: “A group of individuals gathered in November in the French Quarter to protest and worship through prayer and song in a public square. You encountered the protesters while passing through on your bike and, at their invitation, you sang one song with them.”
Landry also called out New Orleans’ government for their double standards regarding protests. Landry claimed that the LET US WORSHIP event “occurred in the same location as a June protest that the city allowed.”
The DICK CLARK’S NEW YEAR’S ROCKIN EVE WITH RYAN SEACREST will air on ABC on Dec. 31, beginning at 8 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. CT.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
