Rock star Bret Michaels is the latest musician to drop out of President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 event celebrating the country’s anniversary.
Michaels’ departure from the concert series brings the total number of artists who have dropped out up to five.
The Freedom 250 Presents: The Great American State Fair is a free 16-day festival taking place on the National Mall from June 25 to July 10, that will include a UFC fight in a star-spangled octagon arena on the south lawn of the White House.
The Trump-affiliated event was sold as a nonpartisan patriotic celebration with concerts and military tributes, but some of the musicians asked to participate claim they were misled about the event's purpose and have withdrawn amid concerns that it no longer aligns with their values.
While artists like Michaels and Young MC have pulled out of Freedom 250, there are plenty of performers who still plan to participate.
Milli Vanilli frontman Fab Morvan said he will still perform because he is “here to entertain and unite people, not divide them.”
C+C Music Factory frontman Freedom Williams said the group planned to drop out after learning about the Trump connection, but ultimately decided to perform and condemned fans who tried to “cancel” him and tell him where he could perform.
Vanilla Ice hasn’t dropped out despite pressure from fans, and Flo Rida is still on the list of musicians taking the stage at the large event.
These stale celebrities might be hitching their wagons to Trump’s event, but Bette Midler, Patti Smith, Jane Fonda, Rufus Wainwright, and Joy Reid will be spending their time performing at a concert for the anti-Trump No Kings movement on June 14, which will be streamed free nationwide.
Who dropped out of Freedom 250?
Bret Michaels
“When this opportunity was originally presented to my team, it was described as a celebration of our country through music and a chance to honor our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life,” Poison frontman Bret Michaels wrote on Instagram.
Michaels concluded, “Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of. Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable. Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance."
Martina McBride
“I would like to talk to you and clear the air. I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25th,” country music legend Martina McBride wrote on social media. “I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.”
"I’ve spent my entire career singing about real people with real issues," she continued. "I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one."
McBride concluded, "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. I assure you, that is not the case. I appreciate every single fan who has reached out. I hope to get back to the DC area very soon."
Young MC
“I have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom 250 event," rapper Young MC shared via Instagram on May 28. "The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. And despite 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," Young MC concluded.
Morris Day and The Time
"Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at ‘The Great American State Fair,'" Morris Day wrote on Instagram.
The post was captioned, “It’s A No For Me."
The Commodores
"The Commodores will not be performing at the Great American State Fair," the funk and soul band The Commodores wrote via Instagram on May 28.
"Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans," the message concluded.
