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"The president needs to own that he's been wrong using this rhetoric and anyone who's encouraged him or cheered him on in this kind of rhetoric needs to apologize as well," Legend said.
John Legend is calling out Donald Trump's "hateful" rhetoric in the wake of the mass shooting in New Zealand over the weekend.
In a recent interview with NowThis, the EGOT winner, 40, slammed the president and his supporters and suggested that Trump's remarks and policies inspire people to enact violence, like the Christchurch attacks, which were allegedly orchestrated by a white supremacist.
Legend stated Trump should condemn these "evil" ideologies and apologize for "demonizing" immigrants and Muslims.
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View Story"That rhetoric of invasion, that rhetoric of violence, of scaring white people to think that these brown people are going to rape and kill their families -- that rhetoric is inspiring people to do these kinds of massacres," he said. "When people of such influence and such stature are endorsing such a hateful, evil ideology, it emboldens those who will go out and do something really evil and nasty, like what happened in New Zealand."
"We need the President to speak out against it," Legend continued. "He needs to apologize for demonizing Muslims. He needs to apologize to brown people who have tried to come here and have a better life. He characterizes their desire to come here and feed their family as an invasion."
"So the President needs to own that he's been wrong using this rhetoric and anyone who's encouraged him or cheered him on in this kind of rhetoric needs to apologize as well," he concluded. "And they need to make it clear that it's not acceptable for us to use this violent rhetoric that leads to this kind of violent action."
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Linking Trump with the terrorist attack didn't go over too well with Trump's supporters, including far-right media publication Breitbart who slammed Legend and said his words were all "lies."
However, the "All of Me" singer clapped back at the trolls, saying that he wouldn't be "shutting up" against Trump anytime soon.
"I always know when Breitbart writes about me," Legend tweeted Tuesday. "An army of venomous trolls with terrible grammar takes over my mentions. I pray you guys rethink all of your existence. Do better. Be best, as your queen commanded you. And know that I won't be shutting up."
Legend's fans particularly enjoyed the subtle shade thrown at First Lady Melania Trump and her anti-bullying campaign "Be Best". "Classy burn and by far the best line in the best tweet of the day haha," one fan wrote, while another tweeted, "I find you inspiring. Keep speaking out."
I always know when Breitbart writes about me. An army of venomous trolls with terrible grammar takes over my mentions. I pray you guys rethink all of your existence. Do better. Be best, as your queen commanded you. And know that I won't be shutting up.
@johnlegend
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