Vanilla Ice defended Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 concert as the rapper confirmed he is still taking to the stage during the festivities next month.
It comes shortly after a number of performers originally slated to be at the event announced this week that they would be pulling out, including Martina McBride and Morris Day.
The Ice Ice Baby hitmaker, 58, explained to TMZ on Friday that music should be bringing the country together and added the focus should be simply on celebrating the United States.
‘I’m here to party with America, man. Music is made to bring people together and that’s what we are here to do. And we’re just gonna represent the 90s.’
The star, whose real name is Robert Matthew Van Winkle, explained that he doesn’t ‘take anything too serious’ and added that he doesn’t ‘think anybody else should’ as well.
He continued that the intention is to ‘bring people together’ rather than being a ‘political thing.’
Vanilla Ice, 58, defended Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 concert as the rapper confirmed he is still taking to the stage during the festivities next month; seen in 2021 in Ventura
It comes shortly after a number of performers originally slated to be at the event announced this week that they would be pulling out, including Martina McBride and Morris Day; Trump seen earlier this month in China
Winkle further expressed, ‘I don’t even vote, so I don’t even care. If Biden called up and said, “My daughter is getting married, we need Vanilla Ice.” I’d go play. It’s not a big thing.
‘You play for your fans. We don’t get a chance to pick our fans, they pick us. And I’ll go play for Putin and I’ll play in Iran if you want, it don’t matter. There’s fans everywhere.’
The performer told TMZ that ‘music is not political, it’s universal.’
Winkle later explained that ‘it’s all about not taking anything too serious and everybody’s opiniated and it seems like the world is a snow globe today. It’s all shaken up, man.’
The music artist added that the concert is simply ‘a celebration of America’ for its 250th anniversary.
‘Come on, enjoy the dancing. Don’t take it so serious. We’re just entertainers, man,’ he shared.
‘I don’t think anybody should take this serious, including them,’ the star said, referring to performers that dropped out of the concert.
Winkle continued, ‘I think everybody should just go dance. It’s just music, what’s the big deal, man? We’re just entertainers.’
‘I’m here to party with America, man. Music is made to bring people together and that’s what we are here to do. And we’re just gonna represent the 90s,’ he told TMZ; seen in 2025 in Minnesota
Winkle later explained that ‘it’s all about not taking anything too serious and everybody’s opiniated and it seems like the world is a snow globe today. It’s all shaken up, man,’ the rapper added; seen in 2022 in Florida
The Jump Around rapper also took to social media on Thursday to offer similar thoughts as he plans to still perform at the concert
The Jump Around rapper also took to social media on Thursday to offer similar thoughts as he plans to still perform at the concert.
While walking outside, Winkle told his followers, ‘This just in, there’s a situation. It’s going down.
‘America is turning 250. Come on, man. Let’s go. I’m super honored to do this concert with everybody. We’re gonna bring back the 90s. Put your dancing shoes on. You’ll be happy, trust me.’
He added, ‘It’s all about enjoying the great times of 250 years, man. George Washington until now, all the presidents and everybody in between.’
The star labeled the event as ‘magical’ and also ‘very rare.’
Winkle expressed once again that he is ‘honored’ to be able to perform at the concert.
‘This is gonna be epic. And that’s it. We don’t take anything too serious. We’re gonna bring the 90s, that’s how it works.’
In conclusion, the rapper added, ‘Proud to be an American and proud and honored for this event. So, get in where you fit in and see you there.’
He added, ‘It’s all about enjoying the great times of 250 years, man. George Washington until now, all the presidents and everybody in between’
Winkle captioned the post with: ‘Happy birthday America 250 years. It’s gonna be an epic party. This is to bring us all together. I’m tired of all the news channels dividing this country. We are all one’
The concert, to celebrate the US’s 250th birthday, will be held at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, Dc, on June 25; National Mall seen on May 29
Winkle captioned the post with: ‘Happy birthday America 250 years. It’s gonna be an epic party. This is to bring us all together. I’m tired of all the news channels dividing this country. We are all one.
‘This is not a political platform. This is celebrating America’s birthday. Nothing too serious just enjoying some fun, dancing and great memories. Hope you guys can join us.’
He also shared to his fans, ‘We are all one. Positivity is the best hope for everything. Love is the answer.’
Also on Thursday, it was revealed that multiple performers dropped out of the Freedom 250 concert.
The event, which claims to be non-partisan, announced a lineup on Wednesday that included Morris Day and the Time, Vanilla Ice, Martina McBride, Flo Rida, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, Bret Michaels and Young MC, among others.
The concert, to celebrate the US’s 250th birthday, will be held at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, Dc, on June 25.
But as soon as the lineup was announced, artists began publicly declaring they would not perform at the event – with some even claiming that they were misled and that Donald Trump’s connection to the gig had been hidden from them.
Morris Day announced Wednesday on Instagram that ‘It’s a no for me,’ while Martina McBride, Young MC and William King of The Commodores also made clear that they would not be performing at Freedom 250, which will also feature a UFC fight on the White House’s South Lawn.
In his Instagram post on Wednesday, Morris Day shared a graphic stating, ‘Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & the Time will not be performing at the “Great American State Fair”‘; Day seen in 2022 in Las Vegas
The Commodores subsequently announced that they would not be performing at Freedom 250
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House and to representatives for Day, The Commodores, Young MC and Milli Vanilli for comment.
In his Instagram post on Wednesday, Morris Day shared a graphic stating, ‘Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & the Time will not be performing at the “Great American State Fair.”‘
The Commodores subsequently announced that they would not be performing at Freedom 250.
‘Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party.’
William King, a co-founding member and multi-instrumentalist for the group, confirmed in a phone call to Rolling Stone that they would not be performing at the concert.
Country music hitmaker Martina McBride also joined the list of cancellations on Thursday.
‘I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading,’ McBride wrote in an Instagram post, adding that she had ‘asked lots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states.
‘I thought this was a great way to celebrate the states and also bring people together in the way that only music can,’ she continued. ‘I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs that I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special.’
But McBride added, ‘Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening.’
Country music hitmaker Martina McBride also joined the list of cancellations on Thursday; seen earlier this month in Nashville
She went on to defend herself, saying she had spent her ‘entire career singing songs about real people with real issues’ and being a ‘voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one’
Young MC went on to join the chorus of artists distancing themselves from the event in a Facebook post
She went on to defend herself, saying she had spent her ‘entire career singing songs about real people with real issues’ and being a ‘voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one.’
‘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,’ McBride continued. ‘I assure you, that is not the case. I appreciate every single fan who has reached out.’
Young MC went on to join the chorus of artists distancing themselves from the event in a Facebook post.
He also clarified how his name came to be associated with Freedom 250 and called it a ‘bait-and-switch’ scheme in an interview with Vibe on Thursday.
‘I had no clue it was considered a “Trump-backed” event, so that was new to me,’ he said. ‘My whole thing was “tell me what the event is, what it’s about, who you are, and then give me the choice of whether I want to do the event or not.” I was never given that choice.
‘I was told one thing, and then it was a bait-and-switch,’ Young MC alleged. ‘All the comments I’ve seen from the artists that have dropped out thought it was supposed to be a regular show in DC.’
Among the performers announced was Milli Vanilli, but members of a group calling themselves The Real Milli Vanilli issued a statement on Thursday distancing themselves from Freedom 250.
‘Others using the name “Milli Vanilli” that appear on the advertisement should be considered a tribute band with no association vocally or musically to our sound or songs,’ they wrote.
Milli Vanilli was originally billed as a duo featuring Rob Pilatus, who died in 1998, and Fab Morvan, but they were later revealed to have only lip-synced to songs performed by studio vocalists, most of whom appear to comprise the Real Milli Vanilli group.
He also clarified how his name came to be associated with Freedom 250 and called it a ‘bait-and-switch’ scheme in an interview with Vibe on Thursday’ Young MC seen in 2022
Among the performers announced was Milli Vanilli, but members of a group calling themselves The Real Milli Vanilli issued a statement on Thursday distancing themselves from Freedom 250
However, Morvan was featured on advertisements for Freedom 250, suggesting that a group featuring him may perform under the Milli Vanilli name.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for The Real Milli Vanilli and Morvan to request comment.
The defections also exposed conflict within some of the groups announced to play Freedom 250.
Freedom Williams of C + C Music Factory clarified in an Instagram video that he doesn’t ‘f*** with Trump,’ but he said he still planned to perform and lashed out at anyone urging him to do otherwise.
‘I don’t give a f*** about Trump. I don’t give a f*** about Trump’s family. I don’t know the n***a. I’m from New York. I know the type of anarchy he creates,’ Williams said. ‘But the day I let you motherf***ers tell me what to do is the day I die.’
Poison frontman Bret Michaels also announced that he will no longer be performing fearing for the safety of his relatives, friends and bandmates; seen in 2022 in Atlanta
Bizarrely, Williams said he would cast votes for Adolf Hitler, Genghis Khan and ‘motherf***ing Ivan the Terrible before I let you n***as tell me what to motherf***ing do.’
But Robert Clivilles, who co-founded C + C Music Factory, explained that Williams – an original member – had acquired the band’s trademark back in 2005 and now performed under the name without Clivilles.
The Freedom 250 concert was organized by Trump appointee Keith Krach, and the event says that it ‘serves as the official public–private partnership’ to create major events for the US’ 250th anniversary.
Poison frontman Bret Michaels also announced that he will no longer be performing fearing for the safety of his relatives, friends and bandmates.
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