Just one day after the Great American State Fair unveiled its lineup, several artists have already pulled out, with one citing the event’s political ties.
The stars-and-stripes-palooza — scheduled for June 25 to July 10 on the National Mall — is part of the nationwide celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It is being organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership established by President Donald Trump.
The fair will feature “live entertainment, immersive exhibits, patriotic tributes, innovation showcases, cultural programming, and family-friendly attractions stretching from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument,” Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach said in a statement on Wednesday.
He named nine artists slated to perform, including Grammy-nominated vocalist Martina McBride, dance music group C+C Music Factory, funk group The Commodores, “Ice Ice Baby” rapper Vanilla Ice and “Good Feeling” rapper Flo Rida.
But within hours of the announcement, three acts began distancing themselves from the Washington, D.C., event.
“I have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom 250 event,” rapper Young MC, best known for his 1989 hit “Bust a Move,” wrote on Instagram.
“The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,” he wrote. “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.”
Morris Day, the lead singer of Prince-linked band The Time, also said he’s a no-go.
“Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at the Great American State Fair,” he wrote on Instagram. “It’s a no for me.”
On Thursday, Milli Vanilli singer Jodie Rocco told The Associated Press that, despite being listed as performers, neither she nor other members of the group had actually been invited.
She told the outlet she was “shocked to see our name.”
The Independent has reached out to Freedom 250.
Freedom 250 was created by the Trump administration in order to handle the year-long celebrations around the semiquincentennial.
“The White House is engaging all levels of government, the private sector, non-profit and educational institutions, and every citizen across the country to celebrate this historic milestone,” the White House website states. “To achieve this ambitious vision, we have created a new public-private partnership called Freedom 250.”
The organization presents itself as nonpartisan, yet detractors argue its connections to Trump tell a different story.
The group is funded by Trump-aligned tech firms Oracle and Palantir, along with federal contractors Lockheed Martin and Deloitte, and lawmakers and watchdog groups have raised concerns about the money trail, according to previous reporting by The Independent.
Some Democratic lawmakers have pressed the Interior Department for a “clear accounting” of Freedom 250’s funding, questioning why a congressionally established commission created a decade ago was bypassed. The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has also called for investigations after The New York Times reported that donors giving more than $1 million were offered access to the president.
In addition to the upcoming fair, Freedom 250 is also spearheading an IndyCar grand prix in Washington, D.C. and the Patriot Games, a four-day athletic tournament. Earlier this month, it organized a daylong prayer rally on the National Mall marketed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation under God.”
