Flo Rida, the only performer left from an original announcement of the Great American State Fair lineup, took the stage at the event Thursday night and drew a decent crowd . . . made up almost entirely of white people.
Asked after his set what he wished for America’s 250th anniversary, Flo Rida said “To continue to do what we did here tonight. Spread the unity, spread the love, peace, joy and happiness, all in fun.”
Performance and Controversy
In a time when the presidential administration was taking action to actually create an atmosphere of empathy and understanding among different groups of people, Flo Rida’s message might resonate. But the rapper’s message is just obfuscation, as sincere as it may be, while the Trump regime and his party attacks immigrants, erases Black figures from American history and destroys women’s reproductive rights all while joyously dismantling any policy that contains the words “diversity” and “inclusion.”
Some might suggest that Flo Rida’s performance at Trump’s event is inclusion and diversity. That suggestion ignores Trump’s larger actions. It misses the forest for a single tree. Flo Rida’s performance was the equivalent of Trump saying “See, I have a Black friend” even as his administration defunds and tries to removes histories of slavery in the United States and restores a monument to a Confederate general.
Video of the rapper performing his hit “Low” showed him playing to a sea of Caucasians. A white man in a Hawaiian shirt stood out among the front row, his knees buckling and arm flapping around in a dance that screamed this is his idea of a great time in America. A dozen or more audience members joined Flo Rida on stage, again almost all white.
Event Lineup and Cancellations
Flo Rida was the only performer of an originally announced lineup to perform the event by Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 organization. A host of other musicians, including <strong-Martina McBride, Young MC, Bret Michaels, and The Commodores, backed out after being booked with many expressing that they had been misled about the event not being politically affiliated. Vanilla Ice also stuck with the Great American State Fair only to have his concert canceled because of weather.
But only so much can be read into Flo Rida’s politics from his performance. The same day he took the stage at the Trump-backed event, he also endorsed Florida Congressional candidate Democrat Bernard Taylor in a story on Instagram. How much of that endorsement is true support versus damage control from performing at Trump’s celebration will be a question that Flo Rida will now have to answer.
In conclusion, Flo Rida’s performance at the Great American State Fair has sparked controversy and raised questions about his politics and values. While he preached unity and love, the event itself was largely attended by white people, and his message was seen as obfuscation in the face of the Trump regime’s divisive actions. As the rapper navigates the fallout from his performance, he will have to confront the complexities of his own politics and the impact of his actions on his fans and the wider world.
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