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Celerity

(55,066 posts)
Fri May 29, 2026, 12:33 PM Friday

Nearly all musical acts drop out of DC Freedom 250 festival after lineup announcement

https://wjla.com/news/local/nearly-all-musical-acts-drop-out-freedom-250-festival-lineup-washington-dc-great-american-state-fair-martina-mcbridge-flo-rida-young-mc-cc-music-factory-vanilla-ice-bret-michaels-milli-vanilli-commodores-morris-day

WASHINGTON (7News) — Just two days after organizers announced the musical lineup for the Freedom 250 festival in Washington, D.C., nearly all of the listed acts have publicly backed out or disputed their involvement.

The Great American State Fair, part of a major 16-day event to celebrate America's 250th anniversary, had announced a lineup that included Martina McBride, Young MC, C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, Morris Day & The Time, Flo Rida, Bret Michaels, and others.

As of Friday, Flo Rida and Vanilla Ice appeared to be among the few major musical acts still expected to perform, while several others said they would not take part after raising concerns about political ties, misleading event descriptions, or unauthorized use of their names.

Artists say event was presented as nonpartisan

Morris Day was among the first artists to withdraw, posting that he and The Time would not be performing at The Great American State Fair. “Contrary To Rumor, Morris Day & The Time Will Not Be Performing at The ‘GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR,’” Day wrote.

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Nearly all musical acts drop out of DC Freedom 250 festival after lineup announcement (Original Post) Celerity Friday OP
Maybe AI can make some noise for them .nt bucolic_frolic Friday #1
Lara can sing Katcat Friday #18
Oh that's cruel MustLoveBeagles Friday #20
Were any of these acts really relevant now? Seriously? Srkdqltr Friday #2
I think they picked nostalgia acts figuring MustLoveBeagles Friday #3
Of course they would. I still say Nugent and Kid Rock. Srkdqltr Friday #5
I like maybe 1 of Kid Rocks songs MustLoveBeagles Friday #7
Is abusing his beagles a euphemism for something else? Srkdqltr Friday #8
No MustLoveBeagles Friday #9
Just struck me 😁 😂 😀 funny. Srkdqltr Friday #12
That's okay MustLoveBeagles Friday #13
I think that "Kid Rock" is a euphemism for Epstein Island. Pass it on. OMGWTF Friday #21
Absolutely Srkdqltr Friday #22
That's really funny! Thank you!!! Unrepentant Fenian Friday #30
Good one! MustLoveBeagles Friday #42
This is turning into a major clusterfuck. mwmisses4289 Friday #4
dump an his yes men are handling it MustLoveBeagles Friday #15
How it started.... Tanuki Friday #6
Are Lara Tr*mp + Ka$h Patel's GF still available??? ultralite001 Friday #10
If we're lucky, perhaps these ladies are available. Totally Tunsie Friday #11
You're on a roll MustLoveBeagles Friday #14
One of (many) more, because...Epstein: Totally Tunsie Friday #16
My guess is that they will not be invited. I'm good at predicting the future. Wonder Why Friday #35
BINGO! Rocknation Friday #17
Now all that's left are the witch burnings, insurrection demos and Trump junk for sale. Cool! Bring your lighter. Wonder Why Friday #19
Where's his number 1 fan Nicki Minaj IcyPeas Friday #23
Hangin' with Rubio.... Celerity Friday #25
Am I suppose to know who that is? I am not going to google to look her up. efhmc Friday #28
Singer/rapper. IcyPeas Friday #31
Nicki Minaj is by far the biggest-selling female rapper of all time. Celerity Friday #34
Thank you for the info. I appreciate your taking the time. efhmc Friday #36
YW Celerity Friday #37
If I announced the following: Harrison Ford will be my co-host at a barbecue at my house PCIntern Friday #24
Vanilla Ice is a major musical act? ...and who the heck is Flo Rida? LoisB Friday #26
He's a rapper, and a pretty popular one jmowreader Friday #33
Thank you. I had never heard of him before. LoisB Friday #43
The Saja Boys Backed Out, Too Deep State Witch Friday #27
LOL, although not so many here will get a K-Pop reference Celerity Friday #32
!!😲 mwmisses4289 Friday #41
Could you imagine what this would have been if Harris were President Bluestocking Friday #29
Anyone have Banjo Boy on their America 250 Dropout Bingo card-? alterfurz Friday #38
If the fucking asshole hadn't hijacked America's 250th birthday, and made it about himself, that would be one thing. Initech Friday #39
Great reply. Fuck Trump, fuck ALL of his shitfuck supporters. I do not often run into MAGAts here in Sweden, be they US Celerity Friday #40
America's 250th birthday celebration could have been something really amazing. Initech Friday #44

Srkdqltr

(10,006 posts)
2. Were any of these acts really relevant now? Seriously?
Fri May 29, 2026, 12:43 PM
Friday

No Taylor Swift? Bad Bunny. 😆 🤣 😂 😹 ?

MustLoveBeagles

(17,605 posts)
3. I think they picked nostalgia acts figuring
Fri May 29, 2026, 12:51 PM
Friday

They'd be desperate for gigs. They figured wrong. Taylor and Bad Bunny would just laugh at them.

MustLoveBeagles

(17,605 posts)
7. I like maybe 1 of Kid Rocks songs
Fri May 29, 2026, 01:17 PM
Friday

A few of Nuggents They're both terrible people. Nugg better not be abusing his Beagles.

mwmisses4289

(4,830 posts)
4. This is turning into a major clusterfuck.
Fri May 29, 2026, 01:09 PM
Friday

My understanding is some of the artist pulling out weren't even aware they were supposed to perform; they and their managers didn't even know they had been listed on the playbill until fans started posting about it.

MustLoveBeagles

(17,605 posts)
15. dump an his yes men are handling it
Fri May 29, 2026, 02:21 PM
Friday

So of course it turned out that way. It's richly deserved. I'm loving it!

Wonder Why

(7,272 posts)
19. Now all that's left are the witch burnings, insurrection demos and Trump junk for sale. Cool! Bring your lighter.
Fri May 29, 2026, 02:54 PM
Friday

Celerity

(55,066 posts)
34. Nicki Minaj is by far the biggest-selling female rapper of all time.
Fri May 29, 2026, 05:54 PM
Friday

From 2010 this is her first massive crossover hit (Taylor Swift pushed it):

Super Bass


Minaj's debut studio album, Pink Friday (2010), opened with the largest female rap album sales week of the 21st century, topped the US Billboard 200, and spawned the single "Super Bass".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicki_Minaj



She is now a MAGAt, gag:





Minaj has advocated for religious freedom and against political persecution. In 2015, she commented on the Charleston church shooting, in which multiple people were murdered in a church. In 2018, Minaj spoke out against Trump's deportation of immigrants, posting on Facebook "I can’t imagine the horror of being in a strange place & having my parents stripped away from me at the age of 5. This is so scary to me. Please stop this. Can you try to imagine the terror & panic these kids feel right now?". In 2020, she supported End SARS, a series of protests against police brutality in Nigeria, stating: "Standing with & praying for the brave young people of Nigeria who are on the front lines of this senseless violence. Your voice is being heard."

In a 2023 interview, Minaj said, "I'm one of those people who doesn't go with a crowd. I like to make my own assessment of everything without help from everyone." She rejected being told who she should campaign for, stating: "there's a lot we don't know that's going on in the government, and I don't think it changes whether you lean to the left or right."

In November 2025, Minaj denounced violence against Christians in Nigeria in a social media post: "No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion ... We don't have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other." She later delivered a speech at the United Nations advocating for an end to the religious violence, stating: "Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria, but also in so many other countries around the world ... religious freedom means we all sing our faith regardless of who we are, where we live and what we believe." Her remarks gained media attention, particularly for her support of sitting U.S. President Donald Trump's stance on the issue. In December 2025, Minaj criticized California governor Gavin Newsom's statement that he wants "to see trans kids", commenting: "Imagine being the guy running on wanting to see trans kids.... Not even a trans ADULT would run on that. Normal adults wake up & think they want to see healthy, safe, happy kids."

She was later interviewed by Erika Kirk at a Turning Point USA conference, where she commented on various topics, including her journey as a Christian and the reasons she chose to speak out on these issues. Minaj said that those who are intolerant of people worshiping God should not be in power. On why her decision was seen as controversial, she stated:

We're not allowed to have a different opinion, we're not allowed to think out loud ... And especially for the young people, I don't want them growing up in a world where they feel like that. They deserve for their voices to be heard, they have valid feelings, and they're thinking about things, and it deserves attention.



On why she spoke up, Minaj stated that she "got tired of being pushed around ... then you realize 'I have something inside of me that's stronger than what's out there'", adding, "In a world that doesn't want us to think, we will think. By ourselves, on our own." Subsequent to these events, media outlets characterized Minaj's views as having become more conservative, contrasting them with her previous criticism of the anti-immigration policies enacted during the first presidency of Donald Trump.

PCIntern

(28,639 posts)
24. If I announced the following: Harrison Ford will be my co-host at a barbecue at my house
Fri May 29, 2026, 04:52 PM
Friday

this summer…

I would be instantly remanded for inpatient psychiatric evaluation and treatment. No question: my license to practice would be suspended pending the outcomes and I could miss my job goodbye.

And all for good reason.

Bluestocking

(827 posts)
29. Could you imagine what this would have been if Harris were President
Fri May 29, 2026, 05:12 PM
Friday

Yes, Taylor Swift would have been in the list.

Initech

(109,373 posts)
39. If the fucking asshole hadn't hijacked America's 250th birthday, and made it about himself, that would be one thing.
Fri May 29, 2026, 06:42 PM
Friday

But the greedy piece of shit did and now we are here. And America's 250th birthday will forever be associated with the shittiest president and worst human being to call himself an American. So here we are. Fuck you always, Donny.

Celerity

(55,066 posts)
40. Great reply. Fuck Trump, fuck ALL of his shitfuck supporters. I do not often run into MAGAts here in Sweden, be they US
Fri May 29, 2026, 07:08 PM
Friday

or Swedes or Brits (my 3 citizenships) or from some other nation, BUT when I do, I do my utmost to run them the fuck out from wherever I am atm.

I have lost some so-called friends, classmates, and co-workers (I sacked a git, an American living here in Stockholm who worked under me, for bringing his MAGAt-amplified racism into the workplace, and damn that felt GOOD) over the past 11 years (June 16, 2015 was the notorious golden escalator ride in Trump Tower to kick off the Age of Trump shitfest the world is in now) but my life is by FAR better off without them. Fuck them. They can all FOAD.

Initech

(109,373 posts)
44. America's 250th birthday celebration could have been something really amazing.
Fri May 29, 2026, 11:38 PM
Friday

But instead it's a sad reminder of how much the fucking asshole and his entourage (Fox, Heritage, Federalist, megachurches, etc) are fucking this country over and will continue to do so.

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