Friday Funnies
Great American State Fair Edition
Well, maybe not truly funny, but I find this amusing, a little heartening, as well as a bit depressing.
Via USAT: Nearly all Great American State Fair acts drop out, including Bret Michaels.
President Donald Trump‘s patriotic concert continues to unravel after more acts have dropped out.
Several artists slated to perform at the Great American State Fair, a 16-day event organized by the president’s nonprofit Freedom 250, have reportedly pulled out of the event, according to statements released on social media since Wednesday, May 27.
The fair, which is expected to run June 25 through July 10, will transform the National Mall in Washington, D.C., into “the biggest, boldest state fair in the country” in honor of the United States’ semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, according to the official Freedom 250 website. Scheduled attractions include a Ferris wheel and carousel, as well as rodeo and livestock competitions.
A lineup of music superstars rounded up to perform has collapsed significantly in the last two days, with Vanilla Ice and Flo Rida among the remaining acts.
This handy graphic tells the tale.
First, the funny. Where to begin? First, this is a collection of acts whose heydays were decades ago (I mean, the Commodores?). And in the truly comedic category, we have Milli Vanilli, famous (or infamous) for committing fraud, and Vanilla Ice, famous for plagiarizing Queen. Could a Trump-event get more on-brand?
Also funny: the incompetence on display here, and the fact that it is embarrassing that the Trump team can’t even get a bunch of acts in the twilight of their careers to show up.
The heartening part is that all of this is a real-life reflection of Trump’s popularity (or lack thereof). No one wants to be associated with him.
Country star Martina McBride shared her decision to exit the lineup on X, saying the event was presented to her as “non-partisan,” but “that turned out to be misleading.”
The Commodores, meanwhile, announced their exit in a succinct Instagram post,
“Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans,” the R&B group said Thursday.
[…]
“The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,” Young MC continued. “And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, Spin magazine describes it as ‘Trump-backed.’ I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”
The depressing part is how much Trump continues to turn America’s 250th into being all about him. This is an ongoing, very public example of his utter inability (or any desire) to fulfill his role as head of state (as opposed to head of government). It also shows his utter inability to take even a slam-dunk, easy opportunity to unify the country.
Where are Kid Rock and the Village People when you need them?
I’m wondering who the “many more” might be.
I’m surprised there’s such an act as Milli Vanilli still in existence. I remember the “controversy” well. So I have to say, withdrawing from El Taco’s fascist fest is the best thing they’ve ever done in their lives.
I’m even more surprised Vanilla Ice is still around.
I don’t know. maybe riding a helicopter to the YMCA?
I kinda feel sorry for Milli Vanilli, cuz they really needs the work. Maybe the REAL singer of that group will appear instead. Hopefully Brian May and Roger Taylor sue Vanilla Ice if he plays Ice-Ice-Baby with John Deacons base line. I would like to see that number performed with a video montage of ICE apprehensions playing in the background, though. Let MAGA see that crap since Fox News won’t air it. A shout out to the marketing team on this event, calling it a state fair while booking it with carnival like used up music acts is brilliant.
The President of the United States dissed by Milli Vanilli. No other president in our history has been treated with such open contempt by ‘artists’ who are, themselves, treated with open contempt. Imagine this happening to Obama. But you can’t imagine it, because Obama could have snapped his fingers and summoned Beyoncé or Eminem or Kendrick Lamar.
As an infinitely more talented artist once sang, “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” That’s right, Bob, you just need a Milli Vanilli.
Honestly, this sentence is unnerving. It’s probably my general anxiety/hating of crowds, but this whole thing just sounds awfully dangerous right now.
All of it feels rushed and ill-thought-through, from the cage match on the White House lawn, to half-assed projects like the reflecting pool painting that may or may not be completed by then, to a huge gaping hole that used to be the East Wing…how on earth are they going to secure all of this???
Believing that Milli Vanilli had slipped into history with their tails between their legs. I looked them up and found out that the musicians and singers that recorded the music the frauds were subsequently lip-synched, released what would have been the second album, under the name, the Real Milli Vanilli. The 90’s weren’t weird enough.
To your point about the 250th becoming all about the Felon, I’ve noticed a distinct lack of events being discussed locally and attribute that to the fact that he’s poisoned the atmosphere.
@Jen: It *is* rushed. I think that’s a point of strategy. Make a big mess, which kind of forces people to let you finish it, or finish it for you.
Also, it demonstrates that Trump knows his time is limited and he wants to make his mark in so many ways. He can just tell some flunky “go do this” and it starts in motion. It doesn’t take his money, so there he goes doing it. He just wants to get as much cranked up as he possibly can. Because he’s a raging narcissist, with very little sense of responsibility to the country.
As an aside, I would not say “no sense of responsibility for the country” because, strangely enough, I think he really believes that tariffs would be good for the US.