Bret Michaels has yanked himself from the lineup of the Trump-aligned Great American State Fair, joining a slew of artists who have fled the event.
The Poison frontman made his exit known via an Instagram post, following the departures of Morris Day and The Time, Young MC, and Martina McBride.
Michaels initially agreed to perform because the event, organized by Freedom 250—a so-called “non-partisan organization” created by presidential order—was pitched as a celebration of America’s 250th birthday. It was framed as a tribute to veterans, active military, first responders, teachers, and hardworking Americans.
He stated, “As the son of a veteran, and coming from a family that has proudly served, that is something I have always been honored to support.”
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Throughout his career, Michaels has aimed to unite people through “music, positivity and good vibes.”
He emphasized, “My shows have never been about politics. There’s about giving people a place to come together, have a great time and forget about life’s stresses for a few hours.”
However, he expressed that the event morphed into something he no longer recognized.
“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,” he remarked.
Michaels pointed to safety threats, stating: “Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable.”
Due to these issues, Michaels opted to withdraw from the concert.
“This isn’t about politics,” he asserted. “It’s about staying true to what I’ve always believed in. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. That’s one of the freedoms our veterans fought for and something I’ve always respected. But as a father, friend and bandmate, I have to take threats and safety concerns seriously.”
C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, and Flo Rida remain scheduled to perform at the 16-day fair.
