Vanilla Ice Ripped Apart for 'Selling Out' as He Sticks with Trump Festival

Vanilla Ice is taking heat for 'selling his soul' as he clings to a controversial gig at a Trump-hosted festival.

As A-list performers flee the Freedom 250 celebration, rapper Vanilla Ice, born Robert Van Winkle, stands firm, drawing scorn for his decision to remain on the lineup for the July 4th event, which critics slam as a MAGA political rally rather than a patriotic gathering.

His defense on TMZ Live only fueled the fire, with critics branding the 1990s one-hit wonder as a sellout willing to sacrifice his credibility for cash. Social media erupted with disdain.

One user bluntly stated, "I think Vanilla is will sell his soul for anything, no news here." Another chimed in, "Of course he would. Any paycheck will do for a washed-up singer. Too bad the only person hiring him is Trump."

A third user added, "Imagine being so desperate for work that you publicly admit that you’d be willing to perform for Putin."

This backlash intensifies as more artists withdraw from the event, citing political concerns and safety threats. Bret Michaels expressed in an open letter that the event had "evolved into something much more divisive" than he initially agreed to, mentioning threats against his band and family. Other artists like Martina McBride, Young MC, Morris Day, and The Commodores have also pulled out.

Despite the growing exodus, Ice remains unyielding, claiming the controversy is exaggerated. "I’m not gonna get dragged into that," he told TMZ. "I’m here to party with America, man. Music is made to bring people together and that’s what we’re here to do."

When asked if performing at a Trump-affiliated event equates to a political endorsement, Ice dismissed the notion. "If Biden called up and said, 'My daughter’s getting married, we need Vanilla Ice,' I’d go play," he stated.

"It’s not a big thing. You play for your fans. We don’t get a chance to pick our fans; they pick us. I’ll go play for Putin and I’ll play in Iran if you want. It don’t matter. There’s fans everywhere. Music is not political, man. It’s universal."

Ice continued, "Everybody’s opinionated and it seems like the world is like a snow globe today; it’s all shaken up. I’m from the 80s and 90s. We didn’t take all this mess so serious. Come on, man, this is a celebration of America. Don’t take it so serious. We’re just entertainers. Just get out, shut up and play. That’s what I say."

Freedom 250 is set for the National Mall on July 4th weekend as part of America’s 250th birthday commemoration.