The Great American State Fair lineup announcement triggered rapid reputational backlash online. Several scheduled headliners either pulled out or said they were confused about being booked. Morris Day stated he would not participate. Young MC said he signed on without knowing the event was associated with Trump, implying poor vetting by event bookers. Bret Michaels withdrew, citing safety concerns. Martina McBride, previously supportive of LGBTQ+ audiences, said she was misled about the booking and expressed distress that fans might feel she was abandoning the meaning of her music. The event’s association with Trump’s 80th birthday celebration intensified criticism and uncertainty.
"As soon as the slate was announced, singer Morris Day instantly corrected the record, saying simply that "it's a no for me." Rapper Young MC also posted yesterday that he signed on to the event without any knowledge that it was associated with Tr*mp-which should tell you everything about how event bookers approached artists they probably knew wouldn't knowingly align with the president's toxic brand."
"Poison frontman Bret Michaels also pulled out of the festival yesterday, citing concern for his safety, which to be honest is not very rock n' roll. But nor is it rock n' roll to sign up in the first place for a dying music festival doubling as Tr*mp's 80th birthday celebration."
"Martina McBride, who was on record as being a friend of the gays as early as 2009, also explained in a statement that she was misled about the booking. "Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening." She wrote on social media."
""I've spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues...It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I'm abandoning the meaning behind thos"
Read at Queerty
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