As of publication time, nearly all of the artists listed to perform at Trump’s “Great American State Fair” concert have pulled out.
Several artists were listed to perform in Washington, DC, during “the biggest, boldest state fair in the country” in honor of the United States’ 250th Anniversary over a 16-day time frame.
Freedom 250, a supposed Trump non-profit, organized the event, with scheduled events to include a Ferris wheel and carousel, along with rodeo and livestock competitions.
Many are saying they were duped into performing at what they were told was a non-partisan celebration.
The lineup of “superstars” is now down to two remaining: Flo Rida and Vanilla Ice.
On Thursday Martina McBride shared to X her decision, saying she had been told it was a non-partisan event, but found out later that “what they were told is, in fact, not what is happening.”
Young MC, the “Bust a Move” rapper, said on Facebook, “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,” Young MC continued. “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.”
C+C Music Factory frontman Freedom Williams, who was also slated to perform June 26, said in an Instagram video that he was not informed of the State Fair’s affiliation with President Trump when he was booked for the event.
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.”
*He also stated later, “Do not dictate shit to me. So you can do what the f-ck you want to do. Like I said, f-ck Trump and f-ck you too. But I just might do it …and you can’t cancel shit.”
The Commodores did not elaborate on their cancellation, saying on Thursday, “Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans.”
Milli Vanilli, the once Grammy award-winning lip-syncing duo who later had their award stripped, has a more complicated response.
Fab Morvan, one half of the duo lip-syncing group, said he will take part in the celebration. Morvan owns the rights to the name Milli Vanilli. The studio vocalists say they will not be participating in the event, and that they had not been notified of the invitation.