A day after the President Trump-affiliated Freedom 250 announced the "first wave" of performers for "The Great American State Fair" shows on Washington's National Mall in June and July, the lineup has been hit with a wave of cancellations. As the AP reports, Young MC, Morris Day, the Commodores, and Martina McBride are among the scheduled acts who have said they will not be appearing. Scheduled performers also include Milli Vanilli, the pop duo from the 1980s who were discredited after it was revealed that their frontmen, Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, were only lip-syncing. Pilatus died in 1998, while Morvan has attempted a solo career and published a memoir, You Know It's True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli.
Morvan said in a statement Thursday that he would be performing at the Great American State Fair. "I am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them," Morvan said. "Let's celebrate life & music and take a trip down memory lane." McBride, however, wrote Thursday on social media that she had agreed to perform after she "was assured this was a nonpartisan event." "Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening," she said, calling the event "misleading," per Billboard. In an Instagram post, Young MC questioned whether the National Mall shows would be nonpartisan. "The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event," he wrote, adding that he hoped to "perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged."
Freedom 250, which Trump launched late last year, describes itself as a "national, non-partisan organization leading the celebration of our Nation's 250th birthday." Trump appointed Keith Krach, who served as an under secretary of state during his first term, as the organization's CEO. Trump and his supporters have long had a contentious relationship with the music community. Celine Dion, Elton John, and Guns 'N Roses are among the many artists who have objected to their music being played at Trump rallies. Day posted on Instagram, "Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at the 'GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR."
McBride was scheduled for June 25. Young MC and Milli Vanilli were among those on the roster for an "I Love the '90s" concert on June 26. Day was listed for June 27. Other performers announced include Flo Rida and Bret Michaels. The Great American State Fair is scheduled to run June 25-July 10. At least one "I Love the 90s" act will be there: Vanilla Ice. "He is proud to help celebrate America's 250th Anniversary!" a rep for the "Ice Ice Baby" rapper said. "Everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate USA's Birthday and our Freedom!"
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