Martina McBride, Morris Day pull out of Trump-linked Freedom 250 concerts

Country singer Martina McBride, Morris Day of The Time, rapper Young MC and the Commodores all cancelled scheduled appearances at Freedom 250's "Great American State Fair" concert series Thursday after learning the Trump-affiliated event was not the nonpartisan celebration they had been promised.

The mass withdrawal underscores a longstanding rift between the American music community and Trump — a cultural divide that resonates with Southern California's politically engaged Korean-American audience tracking U.S. arts and politics.

McBride said she had been told the event was nonpartisan when she agreed to perform but reversed course Thursday. "Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening," she wrote on social media, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Young MC backed her account on Instagram. "The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event," he said, per the ABC7 report.

Morris Day made his withdrawal official on the same platform. "Contrary to rumor, Morris Day & The Time will not be performing at the 'GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR,'" he wrote, ABC7 reported.

Freedom 250 describes itself as a "national, non-partisan organization," though CEO Keith Krach served as under secretary of state during Trump's first term, ABC7 reported, citing the Associated Press. The concerts are planned for Washington's National Mall from June 25 through July 10.

Not every performer followed suit. Fab Morvan, who performs under the Milli Vanilli name, said he would stay on the bill. "I am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them. Let's celebrate life & music and take a trip down memory lane. I feel honored to be a part of as it will celebrate the 250 Year Anniversary of America with so many other accomplished artists," Morvan said in a Thursday statement. A representative for Vanilla Ice told the AP that "he is proud to help celebrate America's 250th Anniversary! Everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate USA's Birthday and our Freedom!"

Milli Vanilli won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1990, though the award was rescinded following a lip-sync scandal. Morvan's original partner, Rob Pilatus, died in 1998.

Freedom 250's concert series is scheduled to run June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations.