Alaska-raised singer-songwriter Jewel explained in an Instagram post on Friday about why she performed at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” inaugural celebration, and said she was sorry if it caused her fans pain.
She said she performed because, “I am a mental health advocate.”
The singer, who was born as Jewel Kilcher but who goes by her first name only, said she had reached out to the Biden Administration about her concerns, saying that one in four children in America are “considering un-aliving themselves.” It’s not much better for adults, she said.
Jewel said, “I believe there are things we can do to save lives. I believe I can help, and if I believe I can help, I have to try.”
She said the mental health crisis cannot wait another four years. “If I can help shape policy, make sure mental health is in the conversation when it comes to American health, if I can help put resources or mental health tools into the hands of the most vulnerable who need it, I’m going to try, and I’m going to fight.”
She also apologized, saying she is “so sorry that I caused pain, especially in my LGBTQIA+ community, because you guys are treasures.”
The full statement can be viewed here:
From a family of Alaska pioneers, Jewel’s grandfather was Yule Kilcher, who settled in Homer, Alaska after emigrating from Switzerland. He ultimately had a hand in drafting Alaska’s State Constitution and served in the Alaska State Senate.
Her life story is one of overcoming hardship. Her parents divorced and she was raised by her father, who suffered from the scars of having been physically abused as a child, and having post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the Vietnam war. He abused alcohol and his own children.
“Through the neglect and human frailty of both my parents, I began to doubt my worth, my instincts, and value,” Jewel said in a biography published at the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. “So lasting are the scars of the child who never feels worthy of love. The negative lessons I learned from my mom and dad, which I’m sure they inherited from theirs, would take me many years to unlearn.”
Jewel hit the road in her teens, living out of her car and singing throughout small venues in Southern California, where her talent was discovered by those who helped her launch her storied singing and acting career. Read her life story at this link.
Critics, such as one writer at Vanity Fair, treated her harshly for performing at a gala celebrating the election of Donald Trump and were not forgiving of her apology.
Eve Batey snarked that Jewel claiming to be “a mental health advocate” is “an assertion that likely made the millions of people who have felt their mental wellness crumble in the past week gnash their teeth in frustration, especially when the singer continued, ‘I believe I can help, and if I believe I can help, I have to try.’ That meant serenading RFK Jr. and his wife, actor Cheryl Hines, with a rendition of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow,’ though it’s unclear how the performance of the famous song made an impact on the fight for our nation’s sanity.”
I’m sorry you said you’re sorry. I’m confused now sorry.
She can say what she wants, she was born, raised and is a multigenerational Alaskan, a host to newcomer Cheechako Alaskans. Not to mention she has the gifted singing voice of an Angel 😉
The LGBT et al is not the ideal representation of good mental health. Unless good mental health is bitterness and jealousy. Sure, the alphabet soup as of late has been pulling in some younger converts with energy and enthusiasm. However, these young minds of mush are soon realizing. Being angry all the time is no way to live
You don’t need to apologize for your support of the country.
Anybody that is Critical of you is not worth the time.
You are your own person and the whiners are just mad because they can’t control you.
Another snowflake in need of serious melting…
Those critics should be ashamed of themselves but I’m betting their minds are so closed that there is probably no hope. Jewel should hold her head up high.
Actually, Dave, those critics need not be ashamed of expressing themselves under the 1st Amendment. Nowhere in the Constitution or law does it say people must agree with each other. We are only required to respect each other’s rights and constitutionally enacted laws. As you said, the only problem is that the lady, Jewel, cares what the critics say.
Shame on her. What a coward!
This is another example of mental abuse. Jewel is being attacked for following her convictions and instincts to work on the mental health crisis from all available platforms. Let her advocate the way she wants and don’t make her question her values in the process. This is a crisis that doesn’t just belong to a select group of people. It exists in all walks of life!
It obvious her “convictions and instincts” are pretty weak in her heart if she finds the need to apologize for them.
Better put her on a suicide watch.
Excuse me, “unliving” watch.
She found common ground
And took action
Good for Jewel
Never apologize to the vicious dogs of modern liberalism. They’ll burn everything down and rule in triumph over the ashes. If you let them.
If that’s a pic of Jewell that confirms she’s had a few jabs and a booster or two – holy smokes !
We all have stories of loved ones harmed and or killed by the jab – RFK Jr, for all his faults, is the one person who will make government accountable for our nations health crisis (which it encourages by its actions and inactions)
No apology needed for the lgbq+- whatever crowd-
Ozempic Face
Why would she think the ‘alphabet soup’ community would be offended by her supporting mental health? That doesn’t make sense. And why would they be offended by her supporting the Trump inauguration? Trump is very friendly to their community. The only ones I can think of who might be offended are those who suffer from a mental illness – TDS.
There’s no need to apologize if you didn’t do anything wrong. There’s no logical reason to apologize to irrational people who accuse you of something you didn’t do.
Disgusting!
Stop pandering to the REAL mentally ill — the radical leftist extremists and authoritarian wokesters!
You are no jewel.
Wow, does she have some problems. She’s a liberal so, it surprised me that she did. Well, when your career is in the crapper and you gotta eat…
So I’m confused on her upbringing. Obviously I’m not the”big Jewel fan” but I remembered her as being raised by her mother not her father & that she started in Homer not in San Diego. Her mother managed her career & when Jewell started playing in California her mother changed her background to San Diego’s own. Then she came back to Alaska for a concert & had to cancel cuz people were pissed she traded Homer’s own to San Diego’s own.
Excellent article about this foolishness in our culture >
‘https://elizabethnickson.substack.com/p/its-over-lefties-even-the-high-end
Right there. Proof that the folks on the left are the real problem in the US.
An entertainer cannot perform a show without getting blasted because of political bias.
.
Seriously? WTF is wrong with the left side of the political aisle?
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While I can understand an individual not liking that a performer they are a fan of might perform for a politician they do not like. That is fine with me. It is the on-line complaining that leads to an apology that is the problem. Jewel made a choice. She chose to perform at an event. She did not (I assume) approach that event and say she wanted to perform, I assume they approached her. And she said yes, which is a good business move.
.
But, the children on the left, who claim they are so tolerant and benevolent, demand obedience to their ideology. Step even slightly out of their echo chamber, and cancel culture takes over.
I hope RFK stirs it up and good. Our food supply is shit our prescription medication is priced completely out of reason and people are fat. And I’m happy Jewell helped RFK at all. And yes the transgender community does need mental health care. Desperately.
She looks pretty frail. She’s lost a lot of weight. I hope she’s okay.
Dear Jewel. Do NOT apologize for standing with RFK Jr. Your mentor jumped on the MAGA train. Also take note to say yes for permission to use your songs or poems for future MAGA campaign events. It worked out very well financially for the Village People composer Victor Willis’ YMCA.
Another liberal crybaby. But, there is a question: Did she give the money back?
If anyone was “hurt”, she should tell them to stop being sissies.
“un-aliving themselves”? What the hell is that?
.
If Jewel can make sure mental health is in the conversation when it comes to American health… when it comes to Planned Parenthood’s thriving infanticide industry, when it comes to grooming children for genital
mutilation, then maybe she’ll have done something useful, no?
.
Otherwise… “un-aliving themselves”? Yeah, Jewel should apologize for that …jewel, no?
Jewel has deep, deep, deep mental issues.
Was she from Bethel?
Homer.
She’s done.
She shouldn’t have to apologize to anyone for singing in an event. Her singing is not a political issue, and those that try to make it as such should be shammed. Music should be available to anyone and everyone for what peace it may bring.
Her boyfriend is a fanatical 100% GOP Booster.
She knows what she did and now wants to walk it back. She bit it, She bought it.
She is only concerned with the revenue she may lose. Quite understandable. Now she should apologize to all of us who were offended by her apologizing to those others who may or may not have been offended.
She has a heart as big as Alaska but, unfortunately, a reasoning ability smaller than Rhode Island…very rough life growing up and I’m not certain that she’s ever really achieved that…but the girl CAN write and make beautiful music so there’s that…
Jewel will learn quickly that bowing to the vengeful leftist cry bullies never works. Every scalp they get to apologize only makes them thirst for more. She should wear her support for MAHA and RFKr with honor. Perhaps Jewel will wake up to see the truth but I do not hold out hope given this ridiculous video post of hers.