Within a day of unveiling the initial lineup for a concert series honoring America’s 250th anniversary, the majority of named artists began dropping out.
Musicians slated to perform at the Great American State Fair, a two-week celebration organized by Freedom 250, a nonprofit backed by President Donald Trump, have withdrawn from the concert series, some saying they had believed it was a nonpartisan patriotic event but later felt it had become too political.
Morris Day, Young MC, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, Martina McBride and Bret Michaels have withdrawn from the Freedom 250 event, leaving Vanilla Ice and Flo Rida are among the acts still scheduled to perform.
The fallout started Thursday when Young MC, Morris Day and Milli Vanilli announced they would not perform.
Young MC, the Grammy-winning hip-hop artist known for his song “Bust a Move,” said he also hopes to perform in Washington, “in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”
“I have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom 250 event,” Young MC wrote in a social media statement. “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event.”
Country musician Martina McBride and the funk band The Commodores followed suit.
McBride called the opportunity “misleading” in a social media statement, saying she had believed the concert series would be a “nonpartisan event” celebrating all 50 states and bringing people together.
“Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not happening,” McBride continued. “It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I am abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I can assure you, that is not the case.”
A brief statement from The Commodores said, “Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party.”
The collapse continued on Thursday when rock musician Bret Michaels withdrew, saying his decision to drop out of the concert “isn’t about politics.”
“My shows have never been about politics. They’re about giving people a place to come together, have a great time and forget about life’s stresses for a few hours,” the Poison frontman wrote in a statement.
“Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be part of,” he added. “I fully intend to come back and perform in our nation’s capital under circumstances where the focus can remain on what it should be — the music and the fans.”
One artist who said he will still perform is Five for Fighting frontman John Ondrasik, who said he was “honored and humbled to perform this Independence Day for #USA250 to celebrate and recognize the greatest nation, and force for good, our world has ever known."
The Great American State Fair will transform the National Mall in Washington, D.C., into “the biggest, boldest state fair in the country” to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary, featuring carnival rides and games, firework shows, live performances and rodeo competition.
In a statement, Rachel Reisner, a spokeswoman for Freedom 250, said the organization is ”dedicated to uniting Americans around the nation’s 250th anniversary."
“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," Reisner said.
Bruce Springsteen to headline protest festival
A month ahead of the midterm elections, Bruce Springsteen — a vocal critic of the Trump administration — will headline a protest musical festival outside Washington, D.C.
Springsteen and Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello announced the Power to the People festival while performing together at Washington D.C.’s Nationals Park Wednesday night.
Slated to perform alongside Springsteen at the festival is the Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews Band, Joan Baez, Brittany Howard, Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black and others.
“This American tragedy can only be stopped by the American people: you. There is no one coming to save us. We’ve got to do it ourselves,” Springsteen said during his concert Wednesday. “So join us and let’s fight for the America that we love. Do you hear me, Washington?”
The one-day festival is set for Oct. 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, and is billed as celebrating “freedom, justice, equality and rock ’n’ roll.”
“It’s about the power everyday human beings have when they come together through music, art, community and action,” Morello said in a statement. “We’re honored to bring this incredible lineup to the D.C. area for a day that celebrates the spirit of activism, creativity, and hope.”