John Oliver is weighing in on the beleaguered Freedom 250 concert series.
Martina McBride, Bret Michaels and more musicians have pulled out of scheduled performances at the Great American State Fair to celebrate the U.S.’s 250th birthday over organizer Freedom 250’s alignment with President Donald Trump’s administration. The 16-day festival is set to take place in Washington, D.C., between June 25 and July 10.
Oliver, 49, recounted the series of events hampering the concerts on the Sunday, May 31, episode of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, quipping, “It is a stacked lineup of people that you haven’t thought about since 2009.”
“Honestly, that sounds less like America’s 250th birthday and more like the playlist at Rhonda’s 50th,” he continued. “The only really surprising thing about that lineup is there aren’t special appearances from the ShamWow guy and the Gushers kid whose head turned into a raspberry.”
In a Saturday, May 30, Truth Social post, Trump, 79, called on organizers to cancel the series due to the number of artists who have backed out.
“We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain. Cancel it,” he wrote.
McBride, 59, was among those who pulled out of the concert series last week.
“I would like to talk to you and clear the air. I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25,” she said in an Instagram statement. “I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.”
McBride said she only agreed to perform after asking “lots of questions and was assured this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states.”
“In my mind, I thought this was a great way to celebrate the states and also bring people together in the way that only music can,” she said. “I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special. Sounds fun, right? Wholesome even.”
“I’ve spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues,” she continued. “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one. It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I’m abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you that is not the case. I appreciate every single fan who has reached out. I hope to get back to the DC area very soon.”
In a statement on his website, Michaels, 63, said, “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. Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable.”
