Nancy Pelosi introduces the cast of Hamilton at Jan. 6 memorial, and it had people cringing hard

vt-author-image

By Carina Murphy

Article saved!Article saved!

People have been left cringing after the cast of Hamilton performed at the Capitol riot memorial service.

January 6, 2022, marked one year since a mob of protestors stormed the US Capitol building in an attempt to stop President Biden's electoral victory from being certified.

Five people died as a result of the riots, with hundreds more injured. Additionally, four police Capitol police officers have died by suicide since the attacks.

On what was expected to be a solemn day, representatives gathered to mark the anniversary with a prayer vigil and a moment of silence. But proceedings took an unexpectedly theatrical turn when house speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a surprise addition to the service; Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda.

"We're privileged to have a contribution from one of the great creative talents of our time," said Pelosi.

She went on to quote one of the most popular songs from his smash-hit Broadway show Hamilton, 'Dear Theodosia'.

"We’ll make it right for you. If we lay a strong enough foundation, we will pass it on to you, and we will give the world to you,” Pelosi quoted.

Miranda then appeared on a screen behind her. Speaking to the chamber via video link, he said: "We should never take our rights and liberties for granted, and we must remain committed to finding a way forward together."

"That’s what I wrote about in the song 'Dear Theodosia' from Hamilton," he added.

Cast members from the popular musical then appeared on screen and gave a performance of the song.

While it may have provided a moment of relief from an otherwise somber service, many people felt that including a  musical number in the memorial was a little bit cringy.

"I love Hamilton to death, but this is sending me into a death spiral of cringing second-hand embarrassment," wrote one user.

"This is reaching levels of cringe I did not think were possible," added another.

"Okay 'Lin Manuel Miranda and Hamilton cast being invited by Pelosi to musically commemorate the one year anniversary of the middle-class fash rager at the Capitol' is simply too much cringe for me to handle," agreed a third.

Others compared the performance to Gal Gadot's infamous celebrity cover of Imagine, released at the start of the pandemic. Like that ill-advised performance, many felt that wheeling out the cast of Hamilton to sing a song at such a serious event was just a little tone-deaf.

"Look out Gal Gadot's 'Imagine'. The cast of Hamilton is coming for the throne of cringe," one person tweeted.

Featured Image Credit: Sipa US / Alamy