Bill Maher Issues Blunt Takedown of Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 Concert Series Lineup
What To Know
- Bill Maher mocked the Freedom 250 concert series lineup.
- Many artists, including The Commodores, Morris Day, Martina McBride, and Bret Michaels, dropped out.
- Despite the controversy and withdrawals, Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli and Vanilla Ice have confirmed they will still perform.
Bill Maher just issued a blunt takedown of President Donald Trump‘s Freedom 250 concert series lineup.
During the opening monologue of the Friday, May 29 episode of Real Time With Bill Maher, the late-night host took aim at the upcoming event. The Great American State Fair will be held from June 25 to July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
“We’re having a big 250th birthday party for America, a concert,” Maher pointed out. “They announced the lineup. Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, Morris Day, Bret Michaels.
Maher then quipped, “I think this is very admirable about the president; it shows he’s concerned for the unemployed.”
He continued, “And then, after they announced this all-star lineup, a lot of them said, ‘No, what are you talking about? We’re not playing.’ That’s got to hurt a lot when you can’t close the deal with Milli Vanilli.”
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Although the concert series is organized by Freedom 250, a nonpartisan nonprofit, the private-public event is backed by Trump. This revelation prompted many of the musical acts to drop out shortly after the lineup was announced. As of writing, those no longer performing include The Commodores, Young MC, Morris Day of Morris Day and The Time, Martina McBride, and Bret Michaels.
“I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event, but that turned out to be misleading,” McBride said in part, in an Instagram post announcing that she’s dropping out of the Great American State Fair.
Meanwhile, Michaels said in his own Instagram update, “When this opportunity was originally presented to my team, it was described as a celebration of our country through music and a chance to honor our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life…. Unfortunately, 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.”
However, Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli and Vanilla Ice have both publicly confirmed that they will perform at the Freedom 250 concert series.
What do you think of the event and artists dropping out?
Real Time With Bill Maher, Fridays at 10/9c, HBO
Conversation7 Comments
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T
Bill is right on point. Trump can't get anyone of real talent or significance; his Kennedy Center experience should have forewarned him what impact his name has in the performing arts. Devaluing the White House and what it represents with UFC fights is about his entertainment speed. Or insulting people while he does his "dance" even Melania can't stand.
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B
Well. I think Bill is extremely funny and very down to earth. I would like to see all types of musicians perform there. My son likes EDM. He's out of concert right now in Columbus 2 days. I honestly like Brandon Lake heartfelt hallelujah. He sang with Jelly Roll. I don't mind hearing songs that I don't agree with or even have bad words in them. If it moves people we are all Americans, let's play all kinds of music. So I challenge the President. Please do that. Let's not be Democrats Republicans independent. Let's be Americans and celebrate our diversity in music taste.!! That's what I would want it to be!!! I challenge different musicians to step up and perform. Love you all!
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D
Why? The musicians that withdrew feel it was promised to be America’s celebration (which would by under the banner America’s 250) and then found out it was under Trump’s control (Freedom 250 is the name of his organization) is not “America’s” celebration. It is not bipartisan. He’s now (and probably before) going to be a rally like his campaign rallys. A lot of partisan bashing, talking about anyone who doesn’t like him being traitors who should be killed, etc. maybe he’ll even mock disabled people. So why should any musicians have to perform alongside that if they don’t want to. So where is America’s real nonpartisan, for all of us celebration? I don’t know. I do know the money that was allocated for local celebrations was later taken away and many local America 250 celebrations were scaled back or cancelled. Where did the money go? To this partisan event? I don’t know. But I fully support the musicians who dropped out.
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A
News sources keep recycling the same story with the same so-called artists, both those appearing and dropping out. Ho hum. This is one of those attempts to polarize people who probably have no interest one way or another.
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T
This so called comedian will become irrelevant pretty soon by the same man , need a new breed thats actually funny.
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N
Maga has no humor, they do not understand comedy, and Maher will be around long after the orange ape is out of office...
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A
you could watch Comics Unleashed........I'm sure that will be a riot!
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