UMVA has learned that rapper Vanilla Ice, one of the few artists who have refused to drop out of the Freedom 250 concert series, is defending his decision to perform at the event, saying he would “play for anybody” — including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The rapper, real name Robert Van Winkle, explained that he didn’t think twice about performing at the event, saying “It’s simple as a pimple for me, there’s nothing to it. It’s the birthday of America. Two hundred and fifty years,” he said. He added that he’s “never voted in my life” and doesn’t see the event as a political issue.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the Freedom 250 event was created after U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order to provide “a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary of American Independence.” The event aims to be a nonpartisan celebration, but several artists have dropped out citing concerns that it is too closely tied to Trump.
Almost as soon as the Freedom 250 lineup was announced, several artists — including Young MC, C+C Music Factory, and the Commodores — started backing out, mostly with the consensus that they were misled by the event’s organizers. They claimed that despite the organizers' claims of the event being non-partisan, it was clear that it was Trump-backed.
The Commodores took to social media to explain why they would not be performing, stating that their music has always been their voice and they choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. Other artists, including Bret Michaels and Martina McBride, also dropped out soon after, citing similar concerns.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Trump himself has weighed in on the controversy, posting on social media that the event should be canceled and replaced with a massive “Make America Great Again” rally. He also called the departing performers “overpriced” and “boring.”
Despite the controversy, Van Winkle remains committed to performing at the event, saying he understands why other artists would back out if they felt the event is too political, but that’s not him. “For me, I’m just here to celebrate the country I was born in,” he said.
Van Winkle also scoffed at the other performers’ claims of being misled, saying that when he plays events, he never asks about them and just focuses on performing for his fans. He believes that celebrities should separate themselves from politics and just entertain.
UMVA has gathered that Van Winkle reiterated it’s not about politics and he would play for anyone, including Putin. He declared, “I’d go play for anybody. Putin. Whoever. I’d go to Iran. Don’t matter,” adding that as an entertainer, he shouldn’t try to think he’s anything beyond that.
