LOS ANGELES—A few supporters of President Donald Trump made their fashion marks on the Grammy red carpet.
Singers Joy Villa and Ricky Rebel each wore looks that made political statements on the night of Feb. 10.
Villa wore a white dress with the black outline of bricks and silver barbed wire tufts on her shoulders as well as carrying a purse with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Trump has proposed a border wall between the United States and Mexico.
“Well to no surprise, I’m still a Trump supporter and supporting the president and what he’s doing. This is my Make America Great Again purse and dress is by Desi Designs Couture, and it represents the wall,” she told Fox News on Feb. 10.
She elaborated on her viewpoint, saying that about a third of women “who are trying to come to this country illegally are sexually assaulted.”
“Thousands of children are sexually exploited by coyotes bringing them across the border. Seventy percent of the heroin in our nation is brought in through Mexico,” Villa said.
“This is not personal against this country or the people. It’s not about race. It’s about protecting the people who are in this country. I’m Latina, I’m black. I support what the president says about building the wall, so that’s what this dress represents,” she also said.
Villa, an avowed supporter of President Donald Trump, wore a dress with Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again,” several years ago.
And last year, she had a pro-life message on the Grammys red carpet.
Villa spoke of the potential backlash.
“Ignore it, keep preaching what I believe in and say ‘Hey listen, there’s a place for all beliefs.’ There should be space. Our first amendment right is free speech, so we should all be able to weigh in and think about what the president does,” she said, adding: “There’s tons Trump supporters out there all of different colors. I know, I am one [and] I hang out with them.”
Meanwhile, she said former President Obama and former President Clinton wanted border walls during their time in public service.
“It’s nothing new. But I believe he’s the one that’s going to get it done,” she said of the current president.
Woah! #twittertrending. Im SO glad other artists are coming out. It’s time. It’s been dominated for years by liberals…Conservative culture is taking over. #maga #walldress #Grammys2019 The Grammys red carpet gets political with ‘MAGA fashion’ statements https://t.co/8E5EKXZXrv
— Joy Villa (@Joy_Villa) February 11, 2019
Villa has previously considered running for Congress.
Desi Designs Couture, the designer of Villa’s dress, posted a disclaimer on Instagram saying clients’ views, thoughts and opinions aren’t necessarily the same as the company’s.
On Feb. 10, another singer, Ricky Rebel, wore a pro-Trump jacket.
It had the words “Keep America Great!,” “Trump,” and “2020” in support of the president, ET reported.
I’m Billboard Top 40 recording artist Ricky Rebel live at the #grammys and I’m a reflection of the 60 million+ Americans that voted for @realdonaldtrump. Be #TheNewAlpha Don’t let anyone keep you in the closet. #kagjacket by @officialandresoriano #MAGA #KAG pic.twitter.com/pIZd3dxMMx
— Ricky Rebel (@RickyRebelRocks) February 10, 2019
“Well, I’m Ricky Rebel, I have a new album called ‘The New Alpha’ so I wanted to wear something that represented what an alpha is and who an alpha is and I am the new alpha,” Rebel told the news outlet. “And I’m reflecting millions of Americans out there who voted for Trump. Keep America great. That’s right, baby. We are here. We’re here all around the world, 50 million of us. My name is Ricky Rebel and I’m a reflection of America.”
Rebel has previously posted photographs of himself outside of the Trump Tower, retweets President Trump, and defended his support of Trump in a 2017 interview.
“I voted for the person who wanted to heavily vet refugees. The other candidate wanted a 550 percent increase in Syrian refugees. It only takes one,” he said, Variety reported.
Ricky Rebel walks the #GRAMMYs red carpet broadcasting support for Trump https://t.co/ukRzgj6OjJ pic.twitter.com/blagyvYR7v
— Variety (@Variety) February 10, 2019
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
