{"id":2437715,"date":"2026-05-29T23:15:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T23:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2437715"},"modified":"2026-05-29T23:15:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T23:15:14","slug":"vanilla-ice-defends-performing-at-great-american-state-fair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/vanilla-ice-defends-performing-at-great-american-state-fair\/","title":{"rendered":"Vanilla Ice Defends Performing at Great American State Fair"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Vanilla Ice<\/strong><\/a> is standing by his decision to perform Great American State Fair\u2019s Freedom 250 concerts after multiple acts have dropped out due to President Donald Trump<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s association.<\/p>\n

\u201cHappy birthday America 250 years. It\u2019s gonna be an epic party,\u201d the rapper, 58, wrote via Instagram<\/a> on Thursday, May 28, alongside a video sharing his excitement for the event. \u201cThis is to bring us all together. I\u2019m tired of all the news channels dividing this country. We are all one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ice added that the event is not a \u201cpolitical platform\u201d but a celebration for \u201cAmerica\u2019s birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing too serious just enjoying some fun, dancing and great memories,\u201d he continued. \u201cHope you guys can join us.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Great American State Fair Organizer Responds to Backlash and Lineup Changes<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tA spokesperson for the Great American State Fair reacted to multiple artists cancelling Freedom 250 concerts due to the event\u2019s association with President Donald Trump. \u201c[The event is] really about the Americans that are going to show up to celebrate our country. That\u2019s what it\u2019s really about,\u201d Freedom 250 spokesperson Julia Friedland told DC News [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In the video, Ice shared that he was \u201csuper honored\u201d to be one of the performers at the show.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all about enjoying the great times of 250 years. From George Washington<\/strong> to now. All the presidents and everybody in between, this is a magical event that\u2019s gonna happen,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s very rare. I\u2019m honored, man. This is gonna be epic. And that\u2019s it. We don\u2019t take anything too seriously and we\u2019re gonna bring the \u201890s, that\u2019s how it works.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ice\u2019s response comes shortly after multiple musicians confirmed they would no longer be taking the stage for Freedom. The concerts were promoted as \u201cnonpartisan\u201d events leading up to July 4th, but the official website featured photos of the president and first lady Melania Trump<\/strong>. Fans also raised their eyebrows after seeing that Freedom 250 lists the White House and numerous government agencies \u2014 including the Departments of Homeland Security and Department of War \u2014 as well as corporations linked to the Trump administration as event sponsors.<\/p>\n

Country superstar Martina McBride<\/strong>, rock star Bret Michaels<\/strong>, legendary group The Commodores and more announced they would no longer be participating<\/a> in the event.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Musicians Drop Out of President Donald Trump\u2019s Great American State Fair<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tThe Great American State Fair appears to have some drama surrounding its lineup of performers. Hours after event organizers announced the initial lineup of special guests, speakers and performers for the 16-day national exposition, some booked musicians said they wanted no part in the event set to take place in Washington D.C. between June 25 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of,\u201d Michaels, 63, said in a statement on Thursday. \u201cConcerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable. Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

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