5 ways Sia could use her 'SNL' performance to protest Donald Trump
Dear Sia,
I know, I heard. You got stuck being the musical guest on Saturday Night Live with Donald Trump hosting.
Have you ever considered swinging from the chandeliers in protest? The SNL set has some nice chandeliers. Sinead O’Connor ripped up a picture of the pope on live TV. You hanging from the chandeliers would be no big thing.
You were born in Australia. Now just imagine someone kicking you out of your home in Los Angeles. The man set to introduce your performance has promised to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants. Donald Trump is in a war against Latinos, and you don’t want to be the artist just standing next to him.
If swinging from the chandeliers is too “966 million views on YouTube,” then here are 5 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 ideas for how to get you banned from SNL.
1. Can I send you a Mexican national soccer team jersey?
You’re not alone. In September, singer Raury got stuck being the musical guest when Trump was invited on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Pay close attention.
2. Tear some shit up.
Find something to tear apart. Maybe one of those “Make America Great Again” campaign hats, Sinéad O’Connor style.
3. Learn from Rage against the machine and go all the way.Rage Against the Machine was in a very similar situation that you have found yourself in. In 1996 they performed on SNL when former GOP presidential hopeful Steve Forbes was hosting. To protest Forbes’s flat tax, the band suspended two upside-down American flags from their amplifiers just seconds before they went live. But NBC was prepared—the band had tried the stunt during the pre-telecast rehearsal so viewers watching the live broadcast didn’t see anything. 3. Maybe just don’t follow the script.
Elvis Costello in 1977 stopped in the middle of his scheduled SNL performance and just started singing the song he felt like singing. He was ultimately banned from the show. All I’m saying is there’s a history of rebellion on the stage, just so you know.
4.Earlier this year you shared the SNL stage with Kanye West. He’s one of the most famous people to not the follow script. Now you can share something else with him—give us your own interpretation of what Trump really doesn’t care about.
Millions of people will be watching SNL. Controversies make people want to watch. Just do it.