American Music Awards co-host Gigi Hadid was roasted on social media Sunday night after performing what some critics called a “disgraceful” and “disrespectful” impression of future First Lady Melania Trump at the beginning of the annual awards show.
During her opening monologue Sunday night, the 21-year-old model told her co-host, comedian Jay Pharaoh, that she’d been working on the impression “all week” and took a moment to “get the face right.”
“I love my husband, President Barack Obama and our children, Sasha and Malia,” Hadid said, mocking the future First Lady’s European accent and her speech at the Republican National Convention last summer.
“I got through it! We’re good!” Gigi shouted.
Pharaoh, a former regular Saturday Night Live cast member also delivered his own Donald Trump impression.
“I love Bruno Mars. I don’t know what color he is, so I can’t deport him,” Pharaoh joked, while impersonating Trump.
Our #AMAs hosts @GiGiHadid and @JayPharoah are holding nothing back tonight. Let's get this party started! pic.twitter.com/w50MYd7nvk
— American Music Awards (@AMAs) November 21, 2016
While the impressions were mostly warmly received by the star-studded audience, Twitter users skewered the stars, and particularly Hadid, for what at least one critic called a “disgusting display.”
Her imitation of Melania Trump was like a mean girl in high school. Disgraceful.
— Leesa FL (@leesa_fl) November 21, 2016
Lost all respect for @GiGiHadid tonight! How tasteless to mock your next president #classless #tasteless #amas #byegigi
— Nikki Baumgarten (@n_baumgarten) November 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/57States/status/800676886435299329
https://twitter.com/_aimeeharvey/status/800611908474671104
Melania Trump is going to be the first lady is the USA! This was the highest form of disrespect possible!
— Gary Moring (@GaryMolten) November 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/__AshKardash/status/800508063392399364
You have ZERO class!! How dare you "mock" Melania Trump when your own PARENTS are immigrants!! Talk about a hypocrite!
— Diana (@MaidsbytheShore) November 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/stvpley/status/800679195001032705
So, @GiGiHadid finds it OK to mock #MelaniaTrump because of her accent. Tolerant liberals at it again.
— Hey Tony (@HeyTony) November 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/JohnLoza07/status/800509366449344512
https://twitter.com/utgemini/status/800522930358603776
Hadid and Pharaoh weren’t the only performers to make political statements during Sunday night’s AMAs.
While performing their latest song “Bang Bang,” rock band Green Day broke out into a chant onstage, shouting “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!”
Singer Indina Menzel also took shot at President-elect Trump while presenting an award alongside Dallas Mavericks owner and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban, who has also been critical of Trump.
Menzel asked Cuban what’s the one thing he’s looking forward to next year. “Not being invited to the inauguration is a good start,” Cuban said.
“I know how you feel,” Menzel responded. “Us unsafe, scary theater people won’t be invited to the inauguration either. I love you Hamilton!” the Frozen actress added, referring to the Broadway show’s cast’s recent lecture to Vice President-elect Mike Pence.
Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter: @JeromeEHudson.
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