Ellie Goulding threatens to cancel Salvation Army Thanksgiving gig unless they make LGBTQ donation

Ellie Goulding is still set to perform at the Dallas Cowboys vs Buffalo Bills game on Thanksgiving Day, after threatening to back out following a backlash from fans.

Last Thursday, the British singer was announced as the halftime act for the sports event the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. 

But a subsequent social media post about her work with sponsor, The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign, ended with her giving the Christian charity an ultimatum.

After sharing pictures of herself helping feed homeless Americans in New York on Tuesday, one Instagram follower commented: ‘I am inspired by her work but this really isn’t it.’

Another said: ‘A little disappointed considering the salvation army has a long standing history of anti lgbtq+ rhetoric. i appreciate the positive things they do but there are other, better organizations that don’t discriminate against others.’ 

Ellie Goulding said she told The Salvation Army she’d ‘have no choice but to pull out’ of a gig unless they ‘very quickly make a solid, committed pledge or donation to LGBTQ community’

She's scheduled to appear on TV for Dallas Cowboys game against Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving. Pictured, the Jonas Brothers perform at halftime in a 2008 game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas

She’s scheduled to appear on TV for Dallas Cowboys game against Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving. Pictured, the Jonas Brothers perform at halftime in a 2008 game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas

Goulding commented: ‘Upon researching this, I have reached out to The Salvation Army and said that I would have no choice but to pull out unless they very quickly make a solid, committed pledge or donation to the LGBTQ community. 

‘I am a committed philanthropist as you probably know, and my heart has always been in helping the homeless, but supporting an anti-LGBTQ charity is clearly not something I would ever intentionally do. Thank you for drawing my attention to this.’

However some social media users criticized her for the decision not to go ahead with the show that in the past 22 years, Keith Urban, Jonas Brothers, Destiny’s Child, Selena Gomez and Meghan Trainor have taken on.

The campaign, which begins on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Christmas Eve, is the largest and longest-running fundraiser of its kind and it raised $142.7million in 2018.

‘What are the lgbtq organizations doing to help the world in any way that can even come close?,’ a fan fumed. ‘@elliegoulding And you’re going to back out unless they donate to an lgbtq charity – that’s so weak.’

Another said: ‘The hungry shouldn’t be able to eat because you’re sensitive about the beliefs of those feeding them?’

Goulding faced criticism after sharing pictures of herself on Tuesday helping to feed homeless Americans

She said: 'I sat and spoke to several people who had come in from the bitter cold for some food'

Goulding faced criticism after sharing pictures of herself on Tuesday helping to feed homeless Americans. She said: ‘I sat and spoke to several people who had come in from the bitter cold for some food’

One person asked: ‘But is she really pulling out because of her beliefs, or because people complained? That’s a big difference.’

The Christian charity said in a press release last week that the kickoff performance is a Cowboys tradition, ‘sounding the call for Americans to donate to the iconic Red Kettle Campaign, which helps provide shelter and meals for the homeless and hungry’.

It also provides Christmas toys for children and social service programs to millions of people in need year-round.

The backlash kicked off on an online post where Goulding gave a glimpse of her recent visit to The Salvation Army’s New York Temple Corps soup kitchen.

‘I sat and spoke to several people who had come in from the bitter cold for some food,’ she told followers, speaking about how she’d witnessed the impact of their services on people’s lives.

When the show was announced, Goulding had stated she was ‘honored to perform’.

Despite the ultimatum, The Salvation Army said Wednesday night that Goulding will play the gig on November 28. Pictured, Goulding performs onstage during Vevo's 10-Year Anniversary in New York City

Despite the ultimatum, The Salvation Army said Wednesday night that Goulding will play the gig on November 28. Pictured, Goulding performs onstage during Vevo’s 10-Year Anniversary in New York City

‘With so many people in need, I believe it’s our duty to help, and I encourage everyone to donate to The Salvation Army,’ she said. ‘The money they raise during the Red Kettle Campaign will change lives for the better all year long.’

Charlotte Jones Anderson, executive vice president and chief brand officer for the Cowboys and former national advisory board chairperson for The Salvation Army called the singer’s ‘infectious energy and generous spirit’ a ‘perfect match to kick off the campaign’.

Despite the ultimatum, The Salvation Army said Wednesday night that Goulding will play the gig on November 28.

In the past it has been reported that the Salvation Army has opposed legal protection for the LGBTQ community. 

A rep said that the backlash against Goulding had helped clear up any ‘myths’. 

‘With an organization of our size and history, myths can perpetuate,’ National Commander of The Salvation Army, David Hudson, told the Dallas Morning News. 

‘An individual’s sexual or gender identity, religion, or lifestyle has no bearing on our willingness to provide service. We stand firmly behind our mission to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.’

Reps for Goulding and The Salvation Army did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s requests for comment.

In the past Luke Bryan has performed for the Cowboys and Salvation Army

Selena Gomez performs during the halftime show during a Thanksgiving Day game between the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2013 in Arlington, Texas

In the past 22 years, the like of Luke Bryan (left) and Selena Gomez (right) and have performed for the Cowboys and Salvation Army

 

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