Joni Mitchell's Political Statement at Hollywood Bowl Concert

Joni Mitchell, the renowned folk music icon, had a clear message for her audience at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles—17 days before the U. S. presidential election. During her three-hour performance on Saturday night, she expressed her feelings about the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. "Fuck Donald Trump, " she declared, leaving no doubt about her stance. This remark followed her rendition of "Dog Eat Dog, " a 1985 song she hadn't sung publicly in over three decades. The politically charged song contains lyrics like "The whitewashed hawks peddle hate and call it love, " and "Where the wealth's displayed / thieves and sycophants parade. " Mitchell even added her own twist to the song, ad-libbing "Like Donald Trump! " to one of the lines. Her bold statement was met with applause from the audience of 17, 000. Mitchell urged everyone to vote in the upcoming election. Early voting had already begun in California and other states including Arizona, Illinois, and Minnesota. "This is an important one, " she stressed, expressing her regret that as a Canadian, she couldn't participate. She also addressed Trump's long-standing attacks on immigrants, who he has falsely accused of committing more crimes than they do. Trump has threatened mass deportation if elected. Mitchell, a Canadian herself, joked, "I'm one of those lousy immigrants, " which drew laughter from the crowd. Throughout her career, Mitchell has been vocal about political issues. She has written songs protesting wars, environmental destruction, and attacks on women's rights.