Report: Union Tells Rockettes To Dance For Trump — Or You’re Fired!

While organizers of Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration struggle to line up performers after such stars as Celine Dion, Elton John, Garth Brooks and Andrea Bocelli reportedly turned down the opportunity, among the few acts that are confirmed are the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and high-kicking dancers The Rockettes of Radio City Music Hall fame.

However, not all the women in The Rockettes are enthused with performing for the new president, and a leaked memo from the union representing the disgruntled dancers instructs the women to put aside any differences they may have with the president-elect and do their jobs — or else.

Following a now-deleted social media post by a Rockette encouraging her fellow dancers to boycott the inauguration, a letter (obtained by Broadwayworld.com) from a rep for the American Guild of Variety Artists (the union representing The Rockettes) calls any proposed boycott “invalid,” and states: “If you are not full time, you do not have to sign up to do this work. If you are full time, you are obligated.”

And while the letter doesn’t spell out the consequences in store for those dancers who refuse to perform, Perez Hilton cites a source who claims that the women were told that “if they don’t perform in the Trump inauguration, they will be sued/and or fired.”

The notion of women being forced to perform against their will for Donald Trump has led celebrities such as comedian Patton Oswalt, actress Debra Messing, “Ghostbusters” director Paul Feig and former “Rescue Me” star Steven Pasquale to express their outrage on Twitter.

Thank you for this, @duarteamanda. Already sent my e-mail. Everyone else please do likewise? pic.twitter.com/WOgcvaJqoy

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 23, 2016

No one should be forced to do anything against their will, not women nor men, whether performers or not. AGVA must protect their artists. https://t.co/E9pdPAAwp6

— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) December 23, 2016

This is horrifying & unethical. #AGVA https://t.co/EnNPsR7hA9

— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) December 23, 2016

Hey @RadioCity, Don't force the Rockettes to perform when they despise even the mention of Trump's name. Don't do it. #inauguration

— steven pasquale (@StevePasquale) December 23, 2016

In a stattement to The Hollywood Reporter, Madison Square Garden Company is now saying that it is voluntary for the Rockettes to perform and they received an overwhelming response to be involved.

“The Radio City Rockettes are proud to participate in the 58th Presidential Inaugural. For a Rockette to be considered for an event, they must voluntarily sign up and are never told they have to perform at a particular event, including the inaugural. It is always their choice. In fact, for the coming inauguration, we had more Rockettes request to participate than we have slots available. We eagerly await the inaugural celebrations,” Madison Square Garden Company said in its statement to THR.