Comedian and host John Oliver mocked the situation surrounding the Freedom 250 festival after a series of artists pulled out of the event created to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence.
During an episode of his show Last Week Tonight, Oliver joked that the festival brings together “people you have not thought about since 2009.”
The host also compared the remaining music lineup to “Rhonda’s 50th birthday party playlist,” referring to the presence of names such as Vanilla Ice, members of C+C Music Factory, and artists linked to Milli Vanilli.
The controversy began after several musicians announced their withdrawal from the event. Among them were Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, The Commodores, and Morris Day. Many said they had agreed to take part after being told it was a nonpartisan celebration, but backed out after discovering political ties involving the initiative.
Oliver also highlighted the difference between the Freedom 250 organization and the official America250 commission, created by the U.S. Congress to coordinate the country’s anniversary celebrations. According to the comedian, confusion between the two groups contributed to the controversy surrounding the festival.
Freedom 250 is part of the program for the Great American State Fair, scheduled to take place from June 25 to July 10 in Washington. Despite the cancellations, some artists remain confirmed. The event, however, continues to face questions over its political nature and the way participants were recruited.
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