Singer Hayley Kiyoko has claimed that an “undercover cop” arrived at her Nashville tour stop to warn her about legal consequences that would arise if she were to have drag queens join her onstage.
Kiyoko, 32, who identifies as lesbian, performed Monday at Marathon Music Works in Music City as a part of “The Panorama Tour.”
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, the “Girls Like Girls” singer claimed she invited local drag queens LiberTea and Ivy St James to perform along with her — but “local law enforcement” advised the performer to not, because of Tennessee’s proposed laws that may ban drag performers within the presence of minors.
Nonetheless, spokespersons for the Metropolitan Police Department told The Post on Thursday that they’ve “no reason in any respect to imagine she spoke with anyone from our police department.”
The MNPD moreover told The Post that the department “wouldn’t do that to start with” and noted that a federal judge temporarily blocked Tennessee’s anti-drag law before it even went into effect back in March.
The Post also contacted representatives for Kiyoko for comment.
“At soundcheck the day of, I used to be advised by local law enforcement that having a drag performance at my all ages show could lead to legal motion,” Kiyoko wrote in her caption concerning the alleged incident.
“That is f–ked up,” she said in an accompanying video, wiping tears away from her face. “That is so f–ked.”
Earlier this 12 months, the Tennessee legislature passed a law regarding “adult cabaret performance” — which now includes “male or female impersonators” — that states that “it’s an offense for an individual to have interaction in an adult cabaret performance … In a location where the adult cabaret performance may very well be viewed by a one that will not be an adult.”
A primary offense could be considered a misdemeanor, punishable by as much as a $2,500 high quality and/or up to 1 12 months in jail.
Additional offenses could be felonies that would bring six months in jail.
Kiyoko claimed she was “distraught” when she was allegedly told the drag performers concerning the “cop” but claimed: “They showed no fear and said they desired to proceed with the show and are available out on stage. In order that they did.”
She also shared pictures and videos of the queens performing.
“We is not going to be silenced. We’ll find ways to proceed to be our authentic selves, regardless of what,” Kiyoko concluded her caption. “We is not going to hand over. Regardless of how hard they make it. I really like you all a lot.”
“About Rattling Time” singer Lizzo, 35, also invited drag performers onstage during her concert in Knoxville last month.
In March, country crooner Maren Morris, 33, told the state of Tennessee to arrest her during a speech at a pro-LGBTQ concert just weeks after the state announced a ban on drag shows near schools.
Pop icon Madonna, 64, previously announced that she would donate ticket proceeds from her upcoming Nashville tour stop to transgender organizations.
