NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� A day after the -affiliated Freedom 250 announced the 鈥渇irst wave鈥� of performers for 鈥淭he Great American State Fair鈥� shows on Washington’s National Mall in June and July, Young MC and Morris Day are among the scheduled acts who have said they will not be appearing.
Day and Young MC issued statements on social media disputing Freedom 250鈥檚 announcement on Wednesday. Scheduled performers also include 鈥淢illi Vanilli,鈥� the pop duo from the 1980s who were discredited after it was revealed that their frontmen, Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, were only lipsyncing. One of the actual singers, Jodie Rocco, told The Associated Press that neither she, her sister Linda Rocco, nor any of the studio vocalists who performed under the group鈥檚 name after the scandal had been asked to come.
鈥淢y sister and I were shocked to see our name, 鈥楳illi Vanilli鈥�, as one of the performers,鈥� Jodie Rocco wrote in an email.
Milli Vanilli won a Grammy in 1990 for Best New Artist, but the award was rescinded after the scandal broke. Pilatus and Morvan released a 1993 album under their own names, 鈥淩ob & Fab,鈥� that sold poorly. Pilatus died in 1998, while Morvan has attempted a solo career and published a memoir, 鈥淵ou Know It鈥檚 True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli,鈥� that brought him a Grammy nomination for 鈥淏est Audiobook, Narration, and Storytelling recording.鈥�
Efforts to reach Morvan and determine whether he will perform at the National Mall were not immediately successful.
A Freedom 250 spokesperson did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment. Freedom 250, which Trump launched late last year, describes itself as a 鈥渘ational, non-partisan organization leading the celebration of our Nation鈥檚 250th birthday.鈥� Trump appointed Keith Krach, who served as an under secretary of state during his first term, as the organization鈥檚 CEO.
Trump and his supporters have long had a contentious relationship with the music community; , and Guns 鈥橬 Roses are among the many artists who have objected to their music being played at Trump rallies.
In an Instagram post, Young MC questioned whether the National Mall shows would be nonpartisan. 鈥淭he artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,鈥� he wrote, adding that he hoped to 鈥減erform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.鈥� Day posted on Instagram that 鈥淐ontrary to rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at the ‘GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR.鈥�
Young MC and Milli Vanilli were among those on the roster for an 鈥淚 Love the 90s鈥� concert on June 26. Day was listed for June 27. Other performers announced include the Commodores, Flo Rida and Martina McBride. The Great American State Fair is scheduled to run June 25-July 10.
At least one 鈥淚 Love the 90s鈥� act will be there: Vanilla Ice.
鈥淗e is proud to help celebrate America鈥檚 250th Anniversary!鈥� a representative for the 鈥淚ce Ice Baby鈥� rapper wrote in an email to the AP. 鈥淓veryone is welcome to attend and celebrate USA鈥檚 Birthday and our Freedom!鈥�
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