Moments after the confiscation, Hughes, who plays the Troll King in the Broadway adaptation of the ever-popular Disney film "Frozen," quickly went back to bowing at the end of the show as the shocked theatergoer began urging others to vote for US President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
— Vanessa DeMarinis (@Vaness_BG) September 6, 2018
Aside from several other videos documenting the snatch heard ‘round the world, photos of the unidentified audience member were also shared online, showing him outside the building after the show, awaiting the return of his banner.
— Joy Rosenthal יוכבד (@TheBroadwayWiz) September 6, 2018
After all was said and done, Hughes took to Instagram later that night to comment on the matter, saying, "What does it say about our country and politics when a man at the show tonight felt the need to protest Disney's Frozen on Broadway with a pro-Trump flag??"
"How frightening is it that our show's messages of love, acceptance and diversity have become the opposition to supporting Trump? The curtain call is a thank you between actors and audience, a final connection to end a shared experience," he continued.
"I will not apologize for how I responded to the disrespectful man trying to interrupt this moment with a pathetic political platform. Not at our show! Not in front of my beautiful, diverse, talented cast at @frozenbroadway."
The actor signed off by thanking his supporters and throwing in a couple hashtags: #resist, #lovewins and #lovetrumpshate.
Speaking with NBC News on Thursday, Hughes told the outlet that while he is "anti-President Trump 2020," he reacted in such a manner because the guest's behavior was disrespectful to both him and the company.
"I think that sign of disrespect has no place at our show and in our theater, and I felt the need to respond in that moment," he added.
But this isn't the first time that worlds of politics and Broadway have clashed. In November 2016, just after Trump won the presidency against contender Hillary Clinton, the cast of "Hamilton" singled out then-US Vice President-elect Mike Pence as he sat in the audience. Trump later deemed the incident harassment and demanded an apology, which he never received.
