Jewel apologizes to fans, ‘LGBTQIA+ community’ for singing at RFK, Jr’s MAHA Inauguration Ball

"We need people from all walks of life joining together to advocate for mental health and other critical issues, so we can find a way forward together," she said on Instagram. "Please be kind to one another in the comments. I love you all."

In her video apology, she said: "As many of you know, I am a mental health advocate. If there's anything that I've learned in the past 20 years, it's that mental health affects everybody's lives across party lines. I reached out to the last administration, spoke with the Surgeon General about the mental health crisis that's facing our nation. I don't know if you guys know the stats, but it is bleak. One in four kids—one in four kids are considering unaliving themselves, and it's not much better for adults.

"And I believe that there are things that we can do to save lives. I believe I can help, and if I believe I can help, I have to try. And if I wait to try until I agree 100% with the people that might be willing to help me, I'd never get off the bench. I don't think that's how activism works, waiting until everything's perfect enough to participate. It's actually because things are so imperfect that we have to find ways to engage and to participate, and we have to act now. We cannot wait another four years.

"I believe there are people in the new administration that are willing to help on this issue, and I do not agree on all the politics, but if I can help shape policy, make sure mental health is in the conversation when it comes to American health, if I can help put resources or mental health tools into the hands of the most vulnerable who need it, I'm going to try, and I'm going to fight.

"And I understand that my words were overly simplistic. Half of our country feels hope right now, and I honor that, and half of our country feels disenfranchised and scared and vulnerable, and that is unacceptable, and I am so sorry that I caused pain, especially in my LGBTQIA+ community, because you guys are treasures. You make the world a better place. You've made my life a better place.

"And I will not stop fighting. None of us can afford to stop fighting, and I really believe that the only way we change is in relationship. It isn't in isolation or by isolating. It's by being in relationship, by reaching out, by having hard conversations. And I really hope that we can push through our hurt and move toward understanding on both sides.

"It pains me, and I'm so sorry some of my long time fans feel that I let them down. I want to be a ray of light in this world. I try hard to be a ray of light in your lives, and I know that in times of darkness, we must grow light. And so I will wake up again tomorrow and try again, and I will count on each of you to do the same. I have so much love and admiration for each of you."

https://twitter.com/libbyemmons/status/1883536084942168172

A brief video of Jewel's performance was posted by @ALandonClements on Instagram, who also wrote about the ball's many speakers, including Russell Brand, Jordan B. Peterson, and the MAHA message on "health and the environment paired with hard work and drive."

https://twitter.com/libbyemmons/status/1883537901205823705

Alaskan songstress Jewel came to success in the 1990s when she went on coffee shop tours across the country. She has previously joined Kennedy in mental health initiatives and recently posted about joining him to support Inspiring Children, an event at which she also sang, but for which she did not apologize.