Vanilla Ice says he is not backing out of the Donald Trump-backed Freedom 250 festival, even as several other artists have left the lineup. In comments to TMZ posted Friday, the rapper said he sees music as separate from politics and framed his decision as a commitment to his fans rather than any political message.
Five of the nine acts originally announced for the summer event have already pulled out, including Bret Michaels, Young MC, Morris Day, Martina McBride and The Commodores. Freedom Williams of C&C Music Factory has said he was considering withdrawing but seemed inclined to stay on. As of now, only Vanilla Ice and Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli have publicly confirmed they are still performing, while Flo Rida has not yet commented.
Vanilla Ice, whose real name is Robert Van Winkle, said he does not vote and does not care about political affiliations when it comes to performing. He said he would play for former President Joe Biden if asked, and even said he would perform for Russian President Vladimir Putin or in Iran if invited. He repeated that his view is that entertainers should focus on giving fans a good time rather than making political statements.
The rapper, best known for his 1990 hit “Ice Ice Baby,” argued that live music should unite people. He said he is “here to party with America” and described the festival as a celebration of the country’s 250th birthday. He emphasized dancing, fun and nostalgia for the 1980s and 1990s, saying people should not take everything so seriously.
Freedom 250 is scheduled to take place this summer in Washington, D.C., with Vanilla Ice set to perform on June 26 at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall. The event has drawn attention not only because of its patriotic branding but also because of the wave of artist withdrawals tied to its Trump association.
Vanilla Ice defended his decision by saying that music is meant to bring people together, not divide them. He dismissed the controversy as overblown and said the role of performers is simply to entertain.
