Musical acts back out of performing at Trump-affiliated concert series | Trump administration
At least seven of the nine musicals that were to appear in the Trump administration’s concert series to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States were canceled within 48 hours of the lineup being announced. announced.
On Friday, Bret Michaels became the latest name to withdraw due to the deteriorating atmosphere and threats made at the event.
“Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has turned into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of,” the lead singer of the band Poison said in a statement on social media. He added that his decision was “not about politics.”
“At the same time, concerns were raised about the safety of my fans, my band, my team, my family and myself, including completely unfounded and inexcusable threats. Therefore, I have made the difficult decision to walk away from this performance,” he added.
The first person to leave, hours after Wednesday’s announcement, was Morris Day, who said he was scheduled to perform at the summer concert series on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. an unfounded “rumor”.
Later on Wednesday, Young MC sent a message that begins: “I have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom 250 event.”
“The artists were never told that they had any political involvement with the event,” he added, before casting doubt on the claim by Freedom 250, the group founded by Donald Trump to organize the US sesquicentennial celebrations, that the series was non-partisan.
On Thursday, Commodores, C+C Music Factory, Martina McBride and Milli Vanilli they all either dropped out or expressed surprise that they had been booked in advance.
“The Commodores will not be performing,” the band said. a statement. “Our music has always been our voice, and we choose not to be overtly affiliated with any political party.”
Freedom Williams, lead rapper of C+C Music Factory, said: video explanation She recorded that she was apparently horrified by messages from friends in a bathroom, saying she was “performing a Trump Freedom demonstration” and “making out with Trump.”
“I’m like, ‘What? What are you talking about?'” Williams responded to people saying, “I’ve known him for years, so who knows I’m not making fun of Trump.”
“I know where I stand. I know who I am,” he added, before revealing that his manager had not mentioned any connection to Donald Trump while hosting the show.
Williams said he told his agent on Wednesday that he was leaving the team after going online to research the series.
Williams attacked Trump, saying, as a New Yorker, “I know the kind of fucking anarchy he’s created,” and brought up the killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. But the rapper reserved his most intense anger for Democrats who threatened to cancel him if he didn’t leave. In a later statement, Williams said the series was “250 years of fucking capitalism and death. 250 years of straight murder.”
Later Thursday, McBride told fans he wanted to “clear the air.”
“I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25. I was offered the opportunity to perform at a neutral event, but it turned out to be misleading,” the country music star said in a statement.
“I asked many questions and was assured that this was a non-partisan event intended to celebrate ALL 50 states,” he added. “Things started to change yesterday and what we were told is not what actually happened.”
Milli Vanilli singer Jodie Rocco told the Associated Press that no one has asked her, her sister Linda Rocco or anyone else in the current group to perform. “My sister and I were shocked to see our name ‘Milli Vanilli’ as one of the artists,” Rocco wrote in an email to the AP.
The poster for the Freedom 250 series featured a photo of former Milli Vanilli frontman Fab Morvan, who performed separately from the band.
At least one of the featured artists, Vanilla Ice, said: an Instagram video “I’m very honored to do this concert with everyone,” he said, assuming he wouldn’t end up performing alone. The rapper performed at multiple New Year’s Eve shows at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago beach club.
Last December, as federal ICE agents’ deadly crackdown on immigrants escalated, two leaders of the effort, Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem, filmed singing together with the rapper on his 1990 hit Ice, Ice Baby.
Freedom 250, Trump started It was “a non-partisan 501(c)(3) dedicated to uniting Americans around the nation’s 250th anniversary,” he told the Guardian late last year.
“Freedom 250 focuses on our special celebrations and events that honor our history and engage all Americans; we welcome everyone who shares our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America,” said spokeswoman Rachel Reisner.
