More than half of the musical acts announced for the Great American State Fair—a July 4th celebration backed by President Donald Trump and organized by the Freedom 250 group—have pulled out, with several artists citing concerns that the event has become politically charged.
The fair, scheduled from June 25 to July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is part of the semiquincentennial celebrations. Freedom 250 had unveiled a “first wave” of performers earlier this week, including Martina McBride, C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, Young MC, The Commodores, Morris Day and The Time, Flo Rida, and Bret Michaels. But by Thursday, most had publicly disavowed their participation.
Artists Cite Political Concerns
Young MC, known for his hit “Bust a Move,” said on Facebook that he had instructed his agents to remove him, claiming he was “never told about any political involvement with the event.” He added, “I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”
Morris Day and The Time posted on Facebook that they would not perform, contradicting the announcement. The Commodores, Martina McBride, and Bret Michaels also withdrew. Michaels, the frontman of Poison, said the event “evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of” and that he had received “threats” over his involvement.
Two acts—C+C Music Factory and Milli Vanilli—saw internal disputes over who could use their names. Freedom Williams, who appeared on some C+C Music Factory tracks, said in a social media video that he told his agent to drop him. But Robert Civiles, a co-founder, claimed Williams was only a “guest” performer and that Civiles himself was not involved in the fair. “We stand for love of all people and races globally and practice neutrality when it comes to political views,” Civiles wrote on Facebook.
Similarly, original Milli Vanilli singers Jodie Rocco, Linda Rocco, Brad Howell, John Davis, and Charles Shaw issued a statement saying that any act using the Milli Vanilli name at the fair was “a tribute band with no association vocally or musically.” However, Fab Morvan, one of the group’s frontmen, confirmed he would still perform under the Milli Vanilli name, telling the Associated Press he aims to “entertain and unite people, not divide them.”
Who’s Still In?
As of Friday morning, only Vanilla Ice and Flo Rida remained confirmed. Vanilla Ice, whose real name is Rob Van Winkle, posted a TikTok video before the cancellations saying he was “super honored” to participate and that the show would “bring back the ’90s.” His X bio describes him as “NON-Political.”
Freedom 250 spokesperson Rachel Reisner said the organization “respects the rights of any artist to make their own decisions, and our doors remain open to any performer who wants to be part of honoring 250 years of American freedom, culture, and unity.” She added, “There is far too much to celebrate about this great nation to let noise and division distract from the incredible moment ahead.”
The group did not provide a timeline for announcing additional performers. The exodus echoes broader tensions around politically affiliated events, as seen in similar controversies where artists distance themselves from partisan branding. Meanwhile, the White House has been pushing other initiatives, including permanent daylight saving time, as the administration’s agenda moves forward.
