Milli Vanilli have become the latest act to distance themselves from the Donald Trump connected Great American State Fair concerts scheduled in Washington, D.C., as part of the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations. On Thursday, May 28, the group announced that they will not be participating in the Freedom 250 event in any form.
Members of the National Guard walk down the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on May 26, 2026, in Washington, DC. President Trump has initiated numerous construction projects on federal government properties in Washington, including demolition of the White House East Wing to build a ballroom and re painting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool blue. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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According to a schedule released by Freedom 250, the group had been listed as performers on June 26. However, representatives for Milli Vanilli stated that anyone appearing under the name at the event should be viewed as a tribute act and not the original vocalists associated with the music.
“The original/real vocalists of Milli Vanilli, Jodie Rocco, Linda Rocco, Brad Howell, John Davis, and Charles Shaw will NOT be performing their hits live at The Great American State Fair,” Milli Vanilli said in a statement. “Others using the name ‘Milli Vanilli’ that appear on the advertisement should be considered a tribute band with no association vocally or musically to our sound or songs.”
Freedom 250 had promoted a June 26 lineup featuring Milli Vanilli alongside Vanilla Ice and Young MC. However, Young MC has also publicly announced that he will not be taking part. “I have informed my agents that I will not be performing,” the rapper shared in a statement posted to social media.
Morris Day, frontman of The Time, has likewise separated himself from the event and confirmed that he will not appear at the Great American State Fair.
Freedom 250 is scheduled as a 16 day celebration taking place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from June 25 through July 10. Artists still listed on the lineup include Flo Rida, Bret Michaels, The Commodores, and Martina McBride.
Originally featuring Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, Milli Vanilli became one of pop music’s biggest acts during the late 1980s.
The project was created by producer Frank Farian, who enlisted Brad Howell, John Davis, Charles Shaw, Jodie Rocco, and Linda Rocco to provide the vocals heard on the recordings. “My sister and I were shocked to see our name, ‘Milli Vanilli,’ as one of the performers,” Jodie Rocco told The Associated Press. Pilatus died in 1998 from an accidental overdose involving drugs and alcohol.
Milli Vanilli remain best known for a string of major Billboard Hot 100 hits, including chart toppers “Blame It on the Rain,” “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You,” and “Baby Don’t Forget My Number.” Other successful singles included “Girl You Know It’s True,” which reached No. 2, and “All or Nothing,” which peaked at No. 4.
Find Milli Vanilli’s statement below.
