Milli Vanilli member Fab Morvan has announced that he will not be performing at the Great American State Fair as part of the Freedom 250 event, making him the latest musical act to distance themselves from the controversial concert series.
On Monday evening (June 1), Morvan appeared on CNN to discuss his reasoning for removing himself from the lineup for the concert series, which is currently scheduled to take place June 25 through July 10 at the National Mall in Washington D.C. The singer, who previously brushed off criticism behind his association with the event — organized by Keith Krach, a Trump appointee — has now had a change of heart, admitting that the controversy has become too much to bear. “This is not what I signed up for,” Morvan told CNN’s Laura Coates, adding that he was initially reassured that the concert was non-partisan, despite conflicting reports.
“When I saw Young MC pulled out, I was like, ‘Well, that’s weird … What does he know that I don’t know?’ So I was a little worried there, and then one after the next, people started to leave. But I was told by my team, who was told by another team, ‘There’s nothing, there’s no political alignment.’ … I was there to unite the people, to have them walk down memory lane, celebrate life. It was a way to say, ‘Hey, I’m still here, you’re still here. Let’s have a good time together.’ But throughout the week it turned into a circus. I’m not into politics, so you hear it first here: I’m not attending the June 26th celebration.”
Morvan previously expressed his intent to perform at the Freedom 250 concert, which he deemed as an opportunity to unite American citizens through music and community. “I am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them,” Morvan said in a statement. “Let’s celebrate life & music and take a trip down memory lane. I feel honored to be a part of the Great American State Fair as it will celebrate the 250 Year Anniversary of America with so many other accomplished artists. Looking forward to reconnecting with you across the USA this summer and to finally sing Milli Vanilli songs live in person!”
Prior to pulling himself from the event, Morvan was one of a handful of acts originally listed to perform at Freedom 250 who had yet to cancel their appearances.
Vanilla Ice, creator of the 1990 hit “Ice Ice Baby,” has downplayed the backlash surrounding the concert, explaining that he’s apolitical. “All we’re doing is celebrating the birthday of our country. What’s the big deal here? … I’d play for anybody,” he insisted while also speaking with CNN on Monday (June 1).
He added: “I’d go play for Biden’s family or anybody. It doesn’t matter.” In an interview with TMZ, Ice declared that he’d “never voted in my life” and said he would perform for “Putin, whoever you want — I’d go to Iran. Don’t matter.”
Rapper Flo Rida has remained mum regarding his involvement in the Freedom 250 concert. A rep for the rapper did not return Rolling Stone‘s request for comment when the lineup was announced.
According to several acts, they initially accepted the invitation to perform due to the event being billed as “nonpartisan” but pulled out after feeling they were misled. Young MC, Martina McBride, the Commodores, Bret Michaels, and Morris Day and the Time are among those who have dropped out of the event.
Over the weekend, President Trump referred to the acts that pulled out from Freedom 250 as “overpriced singers who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring,” going as far as telling the organizers to “cancel” the event, and expressing his desire to replace the concert with a rally instead. He also suggested he’d perform the event himself.
