Music artists are responding to backlash from fans and commenters on social media.
A day after the announcement of a series of Trump-sponsored concerts in Washington this summer, several artists scheduled to perform responded to the public outrage surrounding the events. Musicians are distancing themselves from Trump, as the association with the president remains offensive to many artists and their fans.
Morris Day, Young MC and others are canceling a series of concerts.
Blavity reported on Wednesday that considerable confusion and disappointment ensued following the Freedom 250 organization's announcement of the lineup for The Great Americana concert series in Washington, D.C., commemorating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. Many commenters expressed disappointment over the artists scheduled to perform at the Trump-linked concerts, while others mocked the outdated lineup, which consisted primarily of acts popular in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. Shortly after the announcement, Morris Day & The Time posted on social media: "Contrary to rumors, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at The Great American State Fair.".
Since then, other performers have responded to their roles in the event. Young MC, best known for his 1989 hit "Bust a Move," wrote on social media, "I've informed my agents that I will not be performing at the 250th Anniversary of Freedom event." He explained that "artists were never informed of any political involvement with the event" and thanked the media for alerting them to the event's support for Trump. Young MC promised to return to Washington in the future to perform "at an event that is not so politically charged.".
Jodi Rocco, who sings in the band Milli Vanilli with her sister, Linda, told the Associated Press, "My sister and I were shocked to see our name, Milli Vanilli, on the bill," denying that the band members had been invited to perform at the concert series.
The Commodores announced their decision to not perform at the Freedom 250 event, stating that they "will not be performing at the Great American State Fair. Our music has always been our voice, and we have chosen not to publicly associate ourselves with any political party. We support improving the lives of all Americans.".
Rock musician Bret Michaels pulled out of a concert series Thursday, saying, "Unfortunately, what was billed as a celebration of our country has turned into something far more controversial than what I agreed to participate in.".
Country music star Martina McBride also pulled out of the Great State Fair, stating in a lengthy social media post: "I was offered a non-political event to perform, but it turned out to be a scam.".
Artists are distancing themselves from Trump.
This isn't the first time artists have distanced themselves from Trump-related events. As Blavity previously reported, rappers Nelly and Ludacris faced harsh criticism earlier this year when they were announced as performers at the Trump-friendly Rock the Country festival. Ludacris pulled out of the concert series, claiming his inclusion was the result of a scheduling "mix-up." And after Trump allies controversially added his name to the famed Kennedy Center, many artists and performers declined to perform at the venue. Due to artists distancing themselves from the institution, the Kennedy Center has been closed for two years, beginning on Independence Day 2026, citing renovations as the reason for the closure.
Not all artists are refusing to perform at the "Great American Fair," even if they don't want it to be associated with Trump. Rapper Freedom Williams, who owns the rights to the group C+C Music Factory, also responded to the criticism on social media. In a profanity-laced video, he explained that he doesn't share Trump's political views and had originally planned to cancel his appearance due to the controversy, but has now decided to perform as planned. Williams, who uses the video to criticize Presidents Trump and Obama, as well as Kid Rock, "Zionists," "white capitalists," and the COVID vaccine, frames his decision to perform as a response to "cancel culture." At one point, he declares that he would vote for "f---ing Genghis Khan, Hitler, and f---ing Ivan the Terrible before I let you n--------- tell me what to do.".
Meanwhile, Vanilla Ice confirmed that he will still be performing, with his representative saying the rapper is "proud to help celebrate America's 250th birthday!".
Although Vanilla Ice continues to support the project, and Williams uses his upcoming performance in honor of the 250th Anniversary of Freedom as an act of defiance, most other artists quickly distanced themselves from the event and President Trump. Despite the president's efforts to connect with celebrities and artists, his name remains toxic for many performers.
The article "Trump-Sponsored Concert Loses Most Black Artists, Plus Bret Michaels and Martina McBride" first appeared on Blavity .