Lauren Daigle removed from New Years Rockin' Eve celebration, New Orleans event still on
Christian artist and Lafayette native Lauren Daigle has been pulled from Dick Clark Productions annual Rockin' New Years Eve celebration, according to a statement from Lt. Billy Nungesser and a New Orleans city spokesperson.
This comes after New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called for Daigle's removal from the program after she performed without a permit last month in the "Let Us Worship" rally in the French Quarter.
In the letter, Cantrell said Daigle should not be rewarded with national exposure after violating public health guidance.
In the letter, Cantrell says Daigle put the residents of the city at risk.
"She harmed our people, she risked the lives of our residents, and she strained our first responders in a way that is unconscionable- in the midst of a public health crisis. This is not who we are, and she cannot be allowed to represent New Orleans or the people she willfully endangered," the letter read in part.
According to City of New Orleans Communications Director Beau Tidwell, Cantrell met Friday with Daigle to discuss the performance as well as her concerns.
"Mayor Cantrell met with Ms. Daigle today and is always eager to engage with all stakeholders on matters of public health and public safety. The mayor's concerns regarding Daigle's actions in November remain the same."
Nungesser was critical of Cantrell's letter, calling the move disappointing.
In his latest statement, Nungesser said Cantrell "ruined invaluable, worldwide promotion at a time when it's needed most."
Nungesser claimed in his statement that New Orleans and "any celebration from Louisiana" were pulled from the special produced by Dick Clark Productions.
A city spokesperson said that only Daigle was pulled from the lineup and the New Orleans event is still on.
WDSU reached out for a statement from Cantrell and the city said there was no further comment on the matter.
Read Nungesser's full statement:
"Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser today said New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell's actions against Lauren Daigle cost not just New Orleans the opportunity at invaluable, worldwide promotion at a time when it's needed most, they also cost every city in Louisiana that had a chance at hosting the event.
"When Mayor Cantrell's personal feelings toward Lauren Daigle being tapped to promote her city came to light, we attempted to move the safe, and socially-distanced, celebration to a location outside of New Orleans and Orleans Parish, even offering to hold the event on a riverboat in Gretna with New Orleans still serving as the backdrop. It was then Mayor Cantrell took this issue to the next level, writing letters and making phone calls to Dick Clark Productions and ABC," said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. "The result of her actions was a decision by Dick Clark Productions to pull Lauren Daigle from the lineup and any celebration from Louisiana to be broadcast worldwide. In the long run, this action will not only hamper any efforts for New Orleans to recover from the pandemic, but also every city in the state which offered to host the event, and the state as a whole.
"In 2018, the Louisiana Office of Tourism launched our "Louisiana: Feed Your Soul" brand on Mardi Gras day with a highly-successful activation yielding millions of brand impressions and $1.45 million dollars in earned media. The plan included amplifying that brand message through a partnership with two-time Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and native of Lafayette, Lauren Daigle. As a brand ambassador, the state followed her upward trajectory and in every interview she spoke of her love for all things Louisiana.
"Over the last two years, Lauren has made numerous personal appearances promoting Louisiana as a place where you can Feed Your Soul. In addition, she was featured on the cover of Louisiana's current visitor's guide, as well as social media posts and takeovers. As part of the recent Sunshine Plan to guide the state through recovery, Lauren recorded a version of "You are My Sunshine," Louisiana's state song, featured in an advertising campaign running nationwide and online.
"To have invested so much into the promotion of our great state, along with promotion of the city of New Orleans, and see one of the biggest opportunities squandered over what can only be described as a retaliation is beyond belief," said Nungesser. "I assure you, the Louisiana Office of Tourism and my office will never waver in our passion for this state and its cities, nor will we let personal feelings interfere with the promotion of Louisiana. We will work tirelessly to return Louisiana to record-breaking tourism years ahead."
Attorney General Jeff Landry also criticized Mayor Cantrell's letter, and offered to help work to move Daigle's performance to another part of the state.
WDSU reached out to Daigle, but was told she had no comment.
Read Cantrell's full letter here.