Vanilla Ice defended 's Freedom 250 concert as the rapper confirmed he is still taking to the stage during the festivities next month.
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Vanilla Ice Stands by Trump, Says Music Isnt Political
Vanilla Ice defended Donald Trump's Freedom 250 concert as the rapper confirmed he is still taking to the stage during the festivities next month. It comes shor...
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It comes shortly after a number of performers originally slated to be at the event including Martina McBride and Morris Day.
The Ice Ice Baby hitmaker, 58, explained to TMZ on Friday that music should be bringing the country together and added the focus should be simply on celebrating the United States.
'I'm here to party with America, man. Music is made to bring people together and that's what we are here to do. And we're just gonna represent the 90s.'
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The star, whose real name is Robert Matthew Van Winkle, explained that he doesn't 'take anything too serious' and added that he doesn't 'think anybody else should' as well.
He continued that the intention is to 'bring people together' rather than being a 'political thing.'
Vanilla Ice, 58, defended Donald Trump's Freedom 250 concert as the rapper confirmed he is still taking to the stage during the festivities next month; seen in 2021 in Ventura
It comes shortly after a number of performers originally slated to be at the event announced this week that they would be pulling out, including Martina McBride and Morris Day; Trump seen earlier this month in China
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Winkle further expressed, 'I don't even vote, so I don't even care. If Biden called up and said, "My daughter is getting married, we need Vanilla Ice." I'd go play. It's not a big thing.
'You play for your fans. We don't get a chance to pick our fans, they pick us. And I'll go play for Putin and I'll play in Iran if you want, it don't matter. There's fans everywhere.'
Country music hitmaker Martina McBride also joined the list of cancellations on Thursday; seen earlier this month in Nashville
She went on to defend herself, saying she had spent her 'entire career singing songs about real people with real issues' and being a 'voice for those who have felt like they didn't have one'
Young MC went on to join the chorus of artists distancing themselves from the event in a Facebook post
She went on to defend herself, saying she had spent her 'entire career singing songs about real people with real issues' and being a 'voice for those who have felt like they didn't have one.'
'It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I'm abandoning the meaning behind those songs,' McBride continued. 'I assure you, that is not the case. I appreciate every single fan who has reached out.'
Young MC went on to join the chorus of artists distancing themselves from the event in a Facebook post.
He also clarified how his name came to be associated with Freedom 250 and called it a 'bait-and-switch' scheme in an interview with Vibe on Thursday.
'I had no clue it was considered a "Trump-backed" event, so that was new to me,' he said. 'My whole thing was "tell me what the event is, what it's about, who you are, and then give me the choice of whether I want to do the event or not." I was never given that choice.
'I was told one thing, and then it was a bait-and-switch,' Young MC alleged. 'All the comments I’ve seen from the artists that have dropped out thought it was supposed to be a regular show in DC.'
Among the performers announced was Milli Vanilli, but members of a group calling themselves The Real Milli Vanilli issued a statement on Thursday distancing themselves from Freedom 250.
'Others using the name "Milli Vanilli" that appear on the advertisement should be considered a tribute band with no association vocally or musically to our sound or songs,' they wrote.
Milli Vanilli was originally billed as a duo featuring Rob Pilatus, who died in 1998, and Fab Morvan, but they were later revealed to have only lip-synced to songs performed by studio vocalists, most of whom appear to comprise the Real Milli Vanilli group.
He also clarified how his name came to be associated with Freedom 250 and called it a 'bait-and-switch' scheme in an interview with Vibe on Thursday' Young MC seen in 2022
Among the performers announced was Milli Vanilli, but members of a group calling themselves The Real Milli Vanilli issued a statement on Thursday distancing themselves from Freedom 250
However, Morvan was featured on advertisements for Freedom 250, suggesting that a group featuring him may perform under the Milli Vanilli name.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for The Real Milli Vanilli and Morvan to request comment.
The defections also exposed conflict within some of the groups announced to play Freedom 250.
Freedom Williams of C + C Music Factory clarified in an Instagram video that he doesn't 'f*** with Trump,' but he said he still planned to perform and lashed out at anyone urging him to do otherwise.
'I don’t give a f*** about Trump. I don’t give a f*** about Trump’s family. I don’t know the n***a. I'm from New York. I know the type of anarchy he creates,' Williams said. 'But the day I let you motherf***ers tell me what to do is the day I die.'
Poison frontman Bret Michaels also announced that he will no longer be performing fearing for the safety of his relatives, friends and bandmates; seen in 2022 in Atlanta
Bizarrely, Williams said he would cast votes for Adolf Hitler, Genghis Khan and 'motherf***ing Ivan the Terrible before I let you n***as tell me what to motherf***ing do.'
But Robert Clivilles, who co-founded C + C Music Factory, explained that Williams – an original member – had acquired the band's trademark back in 2005 and now performed under the name without Clivilles.
The Freedom 250 concert was organized by Trump appointee Keith Krach, and the event says that it 'serves as the official public–private partnership' to create major events for the US' 250th anniversary.
Poison frontman Bret Michaels also announced that he will no longer be performing fearing for the safety of his relatives, friends and bandmates.
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