A number of performers booked for a 16-day series of events celebrating 250 years of American independence have now withdrawn from the bill.
The celebrations are scheduled to take place from June 25 through July 10, with a long list of recognizable music acts set to appear on stages at the National Mall in Washington, DC.
The program is being promoted as the Great American State Fair and has been billed as “the biggest, boldest state fair in the country.” The event is being put together by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created under President Donald Trump.
Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach unveiled the entertainment line-up, which included names such as Young MC, Morris Day, Vanilla Ice, the Commodores, Flo Rida, and Martina McBride. In the days since, several listed performers have announced they will no longer take part.
Young MC shared a message on Facebook confirming he would not be performing, writing: “I HAVE INFORMED MY AGENTS THAT I WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THE FREEDOM 250 EVENT.
“The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed.
“I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”
Similar concerns were raised by C+C Music Factory frontman Freedom Williams, who said his representative did not flag any connections to Trump, according to USA Today.
“[My agent] didn’t mention Trump. […] I’m getting all these texts, ‘We’re going to cancel C+C Music Factory. This is going to be a terrible show,'” Williams said.
“So, I told my agent, ‘Yeah, no, I ain’t good to do that. I don’t [support] Trump.'”
Morris Day and The Time also addressed speculation online, stating on Facebook: “Contrary to rumor, Morris Day [and] The Time will not be performing at the ‘Great American State Fair,'”
R&B act Milli Vanilli have also backed out, and one member suggested they were surprised to see the group included on the roster in the first place.
In remarks to the Associated Press, singer Jodie Rocco said: “My sister and I were shocked to see our name, ‘Milli Vanilli,’ as one of the performers.”
Martina McBride, meanwhile, said she believed she was agreeing to something different based on how the invitation was presented. She described the offer as “misleading.”
“I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading,” she said on Instagram, adding: “I asked lots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states.”
As questions swirl over whether the fair will feel, as Young MC put it, “politically charged,” a Freedom 250 spokesperson has pushed back on that characterization.
In a statement, spokesperson Rachel Reisner said the organization is “dedicated to uniting Americans around the nation’s 250th anniversary’.
She added: “Freedom 250 is focused on our signature celebrations and events that honor our history and engage all Americans — welcoming all who share our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America.”