Two performers have already backed out of performing at The Great American State Fair on the National Mall, less than 24 hours after the initial lineup of performers was announced.
Morris Day and The Time Withdraw
Morris Day shared a post on Instagram that his group, Morris Day and The Time, would not take part in the event. “It’s A No For Me,” he said in the caption of the post.
Young MC Also Declines
Young MC also shared that he would not perform at the event, which is being organized by Freedom 250, a self-described “non-partisan organization” that was created as part of a presidential initiative to mark the milestone anniversary.
“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,” Young MC said in a Facebook post. “I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”
Remaining Lineup
Martina McBride, C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, Flo Rida and Bret Michaels are the other artists set to perform throughout the 16-day fair. Freedom 250 says the fair will include programming “celebrating American history, innovation, culture, faith, military service, education, wellness, and the future of the nation.”
Political Leanings of Performers
While artists like McBride and Michaels haven’t been as outspoken about their political views, Vanilla Ice is a friend of the administration after performing at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago mansion in 2020 for a New Year’s celebration. Flo Rida has been critical of Trump in the past. In 2015, the rapper dropped out as a performer at the Miss USA pageant after Trump’s remarks about immigrants received backlash.
