If you didn’t know who singer Joy Villa was before Sunday night’s Grammy Awards, you likely do now: she’s the woman who showed up on the red carpet donning a giant, Donald Trump-inspired dress that read, “Make America Great Again.”
Oh, and if anyone was confused about the intended theme of the gown, the letters T-R-U-M-P were prominently displayed around the bottom, dismissing any potential uncertainty. Predictably, it took just a few minutes for the internet to go wild over the strange outfit, with Villa quickly trending on social media.
People were either outraged or intrigued, wondering why Villa chose to wear the dress, considering that many people in the entertainment industry have made it more than clear that they’re less than impressed with the nation’s 45th president.
Hey @andresoriano, this outfit was incredible. The meaning was not only powerful, but he actual outfit itself was flawless! Iconic. #maga?? pic.twitter.com/lFAled3A4t
— Democrats for Trump (@YoungDems4Trump) February 13, 2017
Villa, though, said she subscribes to a totally different worldview than her peers in the industry.
“I am 100 percent a Trump supporter. I believe in his message, I believe he will run this country like he runs his life, successfully,” she said in an interview with Fox News. “I stand as a proud American and I stand for a unified America that is tolerant of each other no matter who we voted for. I stand behind our president because that’s the American thing to do.”
So, whether it was a bold move to herald Villa’s real-life position on Trump, a PR stunt aimed at skyrocketing fame and record sales — or a mixture of the two, one thing is for certain: the singer is using the attention she garnered to send a positive message.
In fact, Villa also took to Instagram on Sunday night to defend her attire and to urge unity.
“Go big, or go home. You can either stand for what you believe or fall for what you don’t,” Villa wrote. “Above all make a choice for tolerance and love. Agree to disagree. See the person over the politics, carry yourself with dignity, always.”
In the end, Villa’s attire landed her in the number one spot on Amazon’s album list on Monday, placing her ahead of acts like Beyonce and Bruno Mars; she’s currently in the eleventh spot on iTunes.
—
Other Must-Read Stories:
– Pastor Who Claims Georgia Gov’t Fired Him Over His Christian Beliefs Wins Major Victory
– ESPN Producer and Media Expert Quits to Pursue Entirely New Calling: ‘I’ve Felt God Nudging Me…’
– Hollywood Is Gearing Up for a New Television Comedy Called ‘Living Biblically’
– Should Wedding Vendors Be Able to Refuse Service to Gays and Lesbians?