Rapper Young MC has decided to back out of the Freedom 250 concert series after he learned of President Donald Trump‘s connection to the event.
“I HAVE INFORMED MY AGENTS THAT I WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THE FREEDOM 250 EVENT,” Young MC said on Instagram. “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,” the rapper added.
Also questioning their inclusion is Milli Vanilli singer Jodie Rocco, who told the Associated Press that niether she, sister Linda Rocco or any member of the group had been consulted about a performance at the concert.
“My sister and I were shocked to see our name, ‘Milli Vanilli’, as one of the performers,” Rocco told the outlet.
Freedom 250 is a public-private partnership backed by the Trump administration designed to celebrate the 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.
Young MC and Vanilli are following the lead of Morris Day, who on Wednesday in his own Instagram post said he won’t be performing at the Freedom 250 Festival. “Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at the “Great American State Fair,” the musician said after organizers of the “Freedom 250 Presents: Great American State Fair” festival included Morris Day and his band The Time in the official lineup announcement made on X.
C+C Music Factory, which was also announced as part of the lineup for the June 25 to July 10 showcase on the National Mall in Washington D.C., looks to be weighing its options in performing at the festival. Freedom Williams, in a profanity-filled video posted to Instagram, insisted he didn’t support or like Trump and initially considered his own exit from the festival after receiving word from his agent he was in the lineup.
He subsequently said he may perform at the upcoming Freedom 250 Festival after all, in part to show that angry commenters couldn’t tell him what to do. C+C Music Factory co-founder Robert Clivelles shared a Facebook post Wednesday distancing himself and the C+C brand from Williams, who, as Vice reported in 2016, acquired the trademark for the band name in 2005.
“Any comment or event that Freedom Williams makes or participates in regarding any Political or Religious views or opinions, he makes as an individual solely, it has nothing to do with C&C Music Factories viewpoint in anyway, please go to his personal page and or his fake C&C Music Factory page and vent,” Clivelles wrote.
Vanilla Ice, also listed as one of the performers for the upcoming event, will perform, according to a statement from his management company.
The statement says in part: “He is proud to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary!”
Other artists announced to perform at the upcoming event include Martina McBride, The Commodores, Flo Rida and Bret Michaels. THR has reached out to representatives for all the acts to confirm whether or not they will be performing at the event.
May 28, 1:18 p.m. This story has been updated with confirmation from Vanilla Ice’s management that he would be performing at the event.
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