Jewel turned to social media to apologize to her followers after she skilled a backlash over her efficiency at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Wholesome Once more inaugural ball on Monday (Jan. 20), which celebrated Donald Trump’s second inauguration.

Jewel turned up unexpectedly on the occasion to sing “Someplace Over the Rainbow” as a shock for Kennedy’s spouse, Cheryl Hines, Selection stories.

She confronted criticism on-line within the days that adopted, as some followers perceived the singer-songwriter and generally nation singer’s efficiency as an endorsement of Donald Trump’s incoming administration.

Jewel is a longtime advocate for psychological well being, and in a video she posted to Instagram on Friday (Jan. 24), she defined that her efficiency on the occasion was supposed to assist additional her activism.

“I consider I can assist. And if I consider I can assist, I’ve to attempt,” the singer acknowledged. “And if I wait to attempt till I agree one hundred pc with the folks that is likely to be prepared to assist me, I’d by no means get off the bench. I don’t assume that’s how activism works, ready till every little thing’s excellent sufficient to take part. It’s often because issues are so imperfect that we’ve to seek out methods to have interaction and to take part, and we’ve to behave now. We can’t wait one other 4 years. I consider there are individuals within the new administration which might be prepared to assist on this subject.”

She went on to say that whereas she doesn’t “agree on all of the politics,” she’s “going to attempt to I’ll struggle” in the case of placing assets in entrance of those that are combating their psychological well being.

“And I perceive that my phrases have been overly simplistic,” she added. “Half of our nation feels hope proper now, and I honor that. And half of our nation feels disenfranchised and scared and susceptible, and that’s unacceptable.”

Jewel particularly apologized to her LGBTQIA+ followers who really feel marginalized by the incoming Trump administration.

“I’m so sorry that I brought on ache, particularly in my LGBTQIA+ neighborhood since you guys are treasures. You make the world a greater place. You’ve made my life a greater place,” she stated, including that she believes the one strategy to impact change is by sustaining relationships — even with individuals she disagrees with.

“It isn’t in isolation or by isolating. It’s by being in relationship, by reaching out, by having exhausting conversations, and I actually hope that we will push by way of our harm and transfer towards understanding on either side.”